🧳 Annual Paid Leave: Comparing Turkey and European Countries for White-Collar Employees

Understanding annual paid leave entitlements is crucial for white-collar professionals, especially when considering employment opportunities across different countries. This article provides a comparative overview of annual leave policies in Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Long wait for relief: Anticipating 12 months for paid leave benefits.

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🇹🇷 Turkey

• Eligibility: Employees are entitled to annual paid leave after completing one year of service, including the probation period.

• Leave Entitlement:

  • 1–5 years of service: 14 days

  • 5–15 years: 20 days

  • 15+ years: 26 days

• Public Holidays: Public holidays are in addition to annual leave.
  

🇩🇪 Germany

• Eligibility: Employees accrue leave from the start of employment, with full entitlement after six months.

• Leave Entitlement:

  • Minimum of 20 working days per year for a 5-day workweek.

  • Many employers offer 25–30 days.

• Public Holidays: Vary by federal state and are separate from annual leave. tarmack.com
  

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

• Eligibility: Leave accrues from the first day of employment.

• Leave Entitlement:

  • 28 days (5.6 weeks) for full-time employees.

  • Employers can include the 8 UK public holidays within this entitlement.

• Public Holidays: Included in the 28-day entitlement if the employer chooses. +23GOV.UK+23National Law Reviewtarmack.com+8The Sun+8contend.legal+8contend.legal+1Reddit+1
  

🇫🇷 France

• Eligibility: Employees accrue leave from the start of employment.

• Leave Entitlement:

  • 25 working days (5 weeks) per year.

  • Additional days (RTT) may be granted for those working over 35 hours per week.

• Public Holidays: 11 public holidays, which may or may not be paid, depending on the employer. PlayrollGlobal Practice Guides+1RemoFirst+1
  

🇪🇸 Spain

• Eligibility: Employees are entitled to leave from the start of employment.

• Leave Entitlement:

  • 30 calendar days per year.

• Public Holidays: 14 public holidays (8 national, 4 regional, 2 local), separate from annual leave. Justworks
  

🇳🇱 Netherlands

• Eligibility: Employees accrue leave from the start of employment.

• Leave Entitlement:

  • Minimum of 20 working days for a full-time employee.

  • Many employers offer 25–32 days.

  • Employees receive a holiday allowance of 8% of their gross annual salary.

• Public Holidays: Not automatically granted; depends on the employment contract or collective labor agreement. Playroll+2RemoFirst+2Uluslararası Hukuk Rehberleri+5Robin.jobs+5Multiplier+5

Minimum annual paid leave across Turkey and five European countries

Country	Leave Eligibility	Minimum Annual Leave	Public Holidays Included?
Turkey	After 1 year	14–26 days	No
Germany	From start (full after 6 months)	20 days (often more)	No
United Kingdom	From start	28 days	Yes (if employer includes)
France	From start	25 days	Depends on employer
Spain	From start	30 calendar days	No
Netherlands	From start	20 days (often more)	Depends on contract

🔍 Conclusion: Leave Isn’t Just About Days — It’s About Access

When we talk about paid leave, it’s not just the number of days that matter — it’s also when you’re allowed to use them.

Comparison of paid leave eligibility shows Turkey requires a 12-month wait, unlike Europe's "from day one" policies.

As the infographic shows, Turkey stands apart with a 12-month waiting period before employees can access any paid time off. In contrast, countries like Germany, France, the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands grant this right from day one — reflecting a broader cultural stance on work-life balance and employee wellbeing.

If paid leave is a basic right, then delaying access to it is a silent cost — one that workers in some countries bear far more than others.