Vacation time is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Whether you work part-time, share a job, or work full-time, smart vacation planning requires insight and coordination. What rights do you have? How do you consider colleagues? And how do you ensure your days off truly contribute to rest and relaxation? In this blog post, we share practical tips and insights to help you get the most out of your vacation time.
Your rights to vacation days: statutory and extra-statutory
In the Netherlands, every employee is entitled to a minimum number of vacation days, four times their weekly working hours. If you work 40 hours a week, you receive 20 statutory vacation days per year. If you work part-time, for example, 24 hours a week, your entitlement is proportional: you are entitled to 12 days.
Many employers offer extra-statutory vacation days, for example, through a collective labor agreement (CBA) or as an additional employment benefit. These days offer greater flexibility, but in some respects, slightly different rules apply. For example, statutory vacation days expire six months after the calendar year in which they accrued (unless otherwise agreed), while extra-statutory vacation days only expire after five years.
Part-time work and holidays: efficient planning
As a part-time employee, smart vacation planning is crucial. Because your vacation days are calculated proportionally, a strategic approach allows you to make the most of your free time. For example, if you work three days a week, you only need to sacrifice three vacation days for a full week off. This allows you to better spread your vacation time throughout the year.
Tip: Plan vacation days wisely around holidays to create a longer period of rest.
Dual jobs: working together on holiday planning
With a joint role, you share responsibilities with a colleague, which requires additional coordination. It's important to make agreements together about taking vacation days. Make sure you don't burden each other unnecessarily and consult regularly with each other and your manager about the division.
- Make an overview from busy periods and take turns taking time off.
- Agree on replacement, so that customers and colleagues do not experience any inconvenience.
- Please take into account with your own preferences, but also be flexible.
Plan reasonably and well in advance
Vacation days are often requested well in advance. This is convenient, but sometimes difficult if you don't have concrete plans yet. By law, you can generally take vacation days whenever you want, unless there are compelling reasons for your employer to refuse, such as a staff shortage during peak periods.
- Submit your application well in advance.
- Discuss with your team who wants to be free and when, to avoid conflicts.
- Your employer mustUnless otherwise agreed, respond to your request within two weeks. If the employer fails to do so, the holiday will be determined in accordance with your wishes.
Collegiality: strong together
Effective vacation planning requires teamwork. After all, you don't want your absence to lead to extra workload for colleagues. Ensure your work is handed over properly and consult with colleagues about their schedules.
- Create a clear transfer document.
- Schedule important tasks before or after your vacation, so that others don't have to worry about your deadlines.
- Be flexible and willing to make adjustments if that is better for the team.
De Unie will help you further
Do you have questions about your rights regarding vacation planning or are you encountering problems, such as a rejected application? De Unie is ready to help you. Our legal specialists support you with advice and practical solutions. Whether it concerns legal rights, collective labor agreements, or dispute mediation, we ensure you can plan your days off with peace of mind.
Contact us:
📧 sc@unie.nl
📞 0345 851 963 (available on weekdays from 8:30 AM to 17:00 PM).
