Salary FYI

Annual Leave

Benefits

Paid vacation time that employees are entitled to take each year, with the minimum days often mandated by law in most countries outside the United States.

## Annual Leave

Annual leave (vacation leave) is the paid time off specifically designated for rest and recreation. In most countries, statutory minimums are set by labor law.

### Statutory Minimums

| Country | Legal Minimum | Notes |
|---------|--------------|-------|
| EU Directive | 20 days (4 weeks) | Minimum for all EU members |
| France | 25 days + up to 12 RTT | 35-hour week compensation |
| Germany | 20 days | Most contracts give 25–30 |
| UK | 28 days (incl. 8 bank holidays) | 5.6 weeks |
| Australia | 20 days | 4 weeks |
| Japan | 10 days (year 1), up to 20 | Low utilization rate (~50%) |
| US | 0 days | No federal requirement |

### Carryover

Policies on carrying unused leave to the next year vary. Many countries allow limited carryover (e.g., Germany allows transfer until March 31 of the following year). Some employers have 'use it or lose it' policies where permitted by law.