Paid Time Off (PTO)
The mandatory minimum number of paid leave is 26 days and employees can carry over the unused days to the following year, however, they must be used by June 31st. Any remaining unused PTO will be cashed out.
Employers can decide when the vacation is taken. Also, permission to carry over holidays should be stated in the contract. The employee is to take leave in the following way:
- for at least two consecutive weeks in the event of a worker request. or the remaining two weeks, in the 18 months following the end of the vesting year. The leave matures during the employment relationship, from the moment of hiring.
- PermessiEx-Festività (suppressed holidays) -are given to every employee independently from seniority or National Labour Agreement, and they are given due to 4 bank holidays that were abolished. To make up for those days’ employees would’ve had off they are given 32 hours of leaves to be enjoyed at their leisure.
- Permessi ROL (reduction in working hours)-are given to employees starting with their 3rd year of employment and they are 28 hours per year. From their 5thyear of employment, they accrue56 hours per year.
Public Holidays
There are 11 national holidays and 1 regional holiday.
If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the day is carried over to Monday or paid in lieu.
Sick Days
For the first three days, the employee is entitled to a 100% payment which is covered by the employer. This applies to the first two illnesses of the year; for the third illness 66% is covered and for the fourth illness 50% is covered. After that, the employee is not covered for the first three days of illness.
From the 4th to the 21st day of the illness the employee is entitled to 75% of the salary of which 50% is covered by the government and 50% by the employer.
From the 21st day onward, the employee is entitled to 100%, of which 66% is covered by the government and the rest by the employer.
Maternity Leave
Mothers are entitled to 5 months of maternity leave. Two months must be taken before birth. The employee will receive a 100% pay. Employers make the payment and can later ask for reimbursement of 80% from the INPS.
Paternity Leave
Within the first 5 months of the child’s birth fathers receive 10 days of compulsory leave and a paid 100% of their salary. An extra optional day of leave as an alternative to the mother.
New fathers must notify the employer 15 days prior to taking leave.
If the mother does not take maternity leave (due to death, infirmity, or the father having exclusive custody), the father is entitled to three months’ paternity leave after the birth of the child. These rules also apply if the mother is self-employed.