Vacation request: thrills with colleagues and misunderstandings in the confirmation!

Vacation request: thrills with colleagues and misunderstandings in the confirmation!

Requesting vacation in a company is often perceived as a pleasant activity, but it also has its thrills. wort.lu describes that many employees feel a certain nervousness. In particular, uncertainty about approval from the boss can cause tension. First, an informal inquiry is often made to clarify whether vacation is possible in the desired week.

In today's digitalized world, vacation applications are usually submitted electronically. Despite this modern practice, there is still speculation that colleagues share information about vacation requests in secret WhatsApp groups.

The emotional process of applying for vacation

After submitting the application, there is a high expectation of a confirmation email. However, this answer can lead to misunderstandings. The term “Congés annulés” in the confirmation is easily misinterpreted as a rejection. In fact, it stands for “Congés annuels”, i.e. approved annual leave, which can only be distinguished by one letter. The author describes the emotional stress that accompanies the application and the confusion that follows as a participatory but also stressful process.

The column from which these insights come is called “Gazettchen” and has a long tradition since 1946 of recording the authors’ personal experiences. The humor and humanity found in such stories reflect the challenges many face in their professional lives.

Legal basis for vacation requests

In Germany, vacation is regulated by the Federal Vacation Act (BUrlG). Every employee is entitled to paid annual leave after working for at least six months. A vacation request is necessary, even if the supervisor has already been informed. Vacation requests must be made in coordination with the employer, who must take the employees' wishes into account (Section 7 Paragraph 1 BUrlG) fachanwalt.de.

The vacation application is binding, but must be approved before the vacation begins. There is no statutory deadline for submitting the application; the form can vary - whether informal, oral or electronic. As a rule, the application should contain some important information, such as the applicant's first and last name, department, number of vacation days and the duration of the vacation.

Rights and obligations of employees

Employers do not have a binding deadline for approving vacation requests, although the decision-making period is usually within ten days. A lack of feedback from the employer means that the vacation has not been approved. This can have far-reaching consequences, such as unexcused absences, which can lead to a warning or termination. Employees are also required to keep a copy of their applications and feedback for future reference if necessary.

If a vacation request is rejected, it is advisable to speak to the employer to clarify the reasons for the decision. If this does not lead to an agreement, employees may be able to apply to the Labor Court for an interim injunction.

The right to vacation remains even during illness if it is reported immediately. The difference between statutory and collectively agreed vacation entitlement should also be taken into account. While the statutory vacation is 24 working days, the collective agreement may be higher. Employees have the right to compensation for vacation not taken upon termination of the employment relationship.