The second half of August is underway, with some already back at work, others on vacation, and some yet to embark on their well-deserved rest. In 2026, it is possible to enjoy 44 days off while only using 13 vacation days. Here is how.
Planning vacation days in advance by looking at the calendar is key. Here are the important months to consider:
- January: January 1, a Thursday, is a holiday. By taking a vacation day on January 2 (Friday), one can enjoy four consecutive days off.
- February: Carnival falls on February 17, a Tuesday. By taking two days off (February 13 and 16 – Friday and Monday), one can enjoy five days of leisure.
- April: Good Friday is on April 3 and Easter on the 5th. Taking a vacation on April 2 (Thursday) offers four days of rest.
- May: May 1 falls on a Friday, allowing for a long weekend without any extra days off.
- June: This month features several holidays, beginning on June 4 (Thursday) and June 10 (Wednesday). By using three vacation days (June 5, 8, and 9), nearly a week off can be achieved.
- October: The holiday on October 5 falls on a Monday, resulting in another long weekend without requiring additional time off.
- December: December 1 falls on a Tuesday. Taking a day off on November 30 results in four days of relaxation. Additionally, December 8 is another Tuesday; by taking the 7th off, another four-day break is possible. To bridge Christmas to New Year’s, both on Fridays, taking vacation from December 28 to 31 provides a 10-day break.
Ultimately, 13 vacation days used results in 44 days off.
What vacation rights do workers have?
According to the Authority for Working Conditions (ACT), workers are entitled to a minimum of 22 working days of vacation per year.
“For vacation purposes, working days are considered as Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. If a worker’s rest days coincide with weekdays, weekends and non-holiday Saturdays replace those for vacation day calculations,” according to the ACT website.
It is important to note that “special rules apply for this entitlement: in the year of admission, the worker is entitled to 2 working days of vacation for each month of contract duration, up to 20 days, which can be taken after 6 complete months of contracting.”
“If the civil year ends before the worker has completed the six months, vacations can be taken until June 30 of the following year. However, no worker may take more than 30 working days of vacation in a year unless permitted by a collective labor agreement,” the ACT further explains.
