Annual leave entitlements
Regular paid annual vacation is a right to every employee in Bulgaria. It is in the interest of both the employer and the employees, before the expiry of the calendar year to execute written documents for postponing the use of the unused days of paid annual leave due to the respective year.
Based on the written request, the employer issues a written authorization for the use of the paid annual leave. The employee/worker shall use their annual leave by the end of the calendar year, unless its use is postponed.
There are two options for the leave to be used the following year – when it is postponed or when it is not used.
• Postponement of use
Тhe Labor Code provides possibilities for cases in which the use of the leave may be postponed. The use of the paid annual leave may be left for the following calendar year by the employer for important production reason in which case the employer must postpone the use of the paid vacation and promptly notify the employee/worker.
Another example for delaying the usage of the paid annual leave is by employee`s request but with the consent of the employer.
Furthermore, the law provides for cases in which the use of leave may not be used the current year – when the employeе/worker is using another type of leave. In this case, the written request is not required.
- The employee did not use the leave
In this case the written request is not required.
When does the right of use expire?
When the paid annual leave is postponed, the right of the employee to use it elapses after 2 years from the end of the year in which the reason for its non-use expires. If the postponement is due to another leave, the period runs from the end of the year in which the employee has returned to work. Where leave is not used, the period shall run from the end of the year for which the paid annual leave is applicable.
We remain at your disposal in case of questions.
Yours sincerely,
Sb Team
