How to Calculate Holiday Pay in Germany

Holiday pay in Germany is regulated by the Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz (Wage Continuation Act). When a public holiday falls on a regular workday, employees are entitled to their regular pay even if they don't work.

Key Rules for German Holiday Pay

• Entitlement: Employees receive their regular daily wage on public holidays.
• Working on Holidays: If you work on a public holiday, you're typically entitled to either time off in lieu or premium pay (usually 25-50% extra).
• States May Differ: Each German state (Bundesland) has its own holiday calendar.

Example Calculation

If your monthly salary is €3,500 and you work 22 days in a month, your daily rate is approximately €159. If you work on a public holiday, you would receive your regular daily pay plus potentially holiday premium pay.

Germany's 2027 Public Holidays

Germany has 9 nationwide public holidays plus additional state-specific holidays. Key dates for 2027 include: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Good Friday (Mar 26), Easter Monday (Mar 29), Labour Day (May 1), Ascension Day (May 6), Whit Monday (May 17), German Unity Day (Oct 3), Christmas Day (Dec 25), and Boxing Day (Dec 26). Bavaria and other states add up to 13 total holidays with Epiphany (Jan 6), Corpus Christi (Jun 3), and Assumption Day (Aug 15).

For the full German holiday calendar, visit our Germany holidays page.