Vacation
"Educational leave? Not for trainees."
You want to attend a seminar and take educational leave for it.
Bildungsurlaubs- bzw. Bildungszeitgesetze der Länder
It depends …
In most federal states yes — but the rules are a matter for each state.
Educational leave (depending on the state also called education time or educational release) is additional paid leave for recognised further training and does not come out of your annual leave. It is governed by state laws: most federal states have such a law, Bavaria and Saxony do not. Whether and for what trainees may take it is decided by each state; several states limit it for trainees to political education or to a few days during the training. Otherwise 5 days a year is common, often 10 days over two years. The course must be recognised in the state, and the application usually has to reach the company several weeks in advance.
What the law says
State laws on educational release
Employees are entitled to paid release for recognised courses under the conditions of the respective state law; Bavaria and Saxony have no such law.
What you can do
- Search for "Bildungsurlaub" plus your federal state — the trainee rules are listed there.
- Choose a course recognised for your federal state.
- Apply in writing within your state's deadline (often 6 weeks in advance).
- Educational leave is additional — your annual leave stays untouched.
More cases: Vacation
- Your holiday is cancelled!
- You take holiday when I say!
- You only get 20 days' holiday, you don't need more.
- Tough luck, your holiday days are gone.
- You take a week off at most!
- No vacation until after probation.
- Just take vacation on your school day.
- Your remaining leave expires on 31 December.
- Forget your remaining leave at the end of the training.
- You have to take vacation for the funeral.