Managing employee leave and vacation entitlements is a critical aspect of compliance and employee satisfaction when operating in Ukraine. Ukrainian labor law provides clear guidelines on various types of leave, ensuring employees receive adequate time off for rest, illness, family matters, and other significant life events. Understanding these regulations is essential for employers to maintain legal compliance and foster a positive working environment.
Employers in Ukraine must adhere to specific requirements regarding annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, and various forms of parental and personal leave. Navigating these entitlements requires careful attention to detail to ensure accurate calculation, scheduling, and compensation. The following outlines the key aspects of leave policies applicable in Ukraine for 2025.
Annual Vacation Leave
Employees in Ukraine are entitled to paid annual leave. The minimum duration of basic annual leave is set by law.
- Minimum Entitlement: The standard minimum annual paid leave entitlement is 24 calendar days for each working year.
- Accrual: Leave is typically accrued based on the time worked.
- Scheduling: The timing of annual leave is usually determined by a schedule agreed upon between the employer and the employee representative body (like a trade union) or directly with employees, considering the interests of both parties.
- Splitting Leave: Annual leave can be split into parts, provided that one continuous part is at least 14 calendar days.
- Payment: Vacation pay must be calculated and paid to the employee no later than three days before the start of the leave.
- Carryover: Unused annual leave can generally be carried over to the next working year, but it is recommended to use leave within the year it is accrued.
Certain categories of employees may be entitled to longer annual leave durations based on their profession, working conditions, or other factors specified by law.
Public Holidays
Ukraine observes several public holidays throughout the year. These days are typically non-working days for employees. When a public holiday falls on a weekend, the day off is usually transferred to the next working day.
Here are the expected public holidays for 2025:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day |
| January 7 | Orthodox Christmas |
| March 8 | International Women's Day |
| April 20 | Orthodox Easter (Pascha) |
| May 1 | International Workers' Day |
| May 8 | Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation |
| May 9 | Victory Day over Nazism in World War II |
| June 8 | Orthodox Holy Trinity Day (Pentecost) |
| June 28 | Constitution Day of Ukraine |
| August 24 | Independence Day of Ukraine |
| October 1 | Day of the Defenders of Ukraine |
| December 25 | Christmas Day (Catholic/Protestant) |
Note: Dates for Orthodox Easter and Holy Trinity Day vary each year based on the religious calendar.
Work on public holidays is generally prohibited, except for specific cases defined by law (e.g., continuous production, essential services). If an employee works on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to double pay or another day off.
Sick Leave
Employees in Ukraine are entitled to sick leave due to temporary incapacity for work caused by illness or injury.
- Entitlement: Employees are entitled to paid sick leave based on a medical certificate issued by a healthcare professional.
- Duration: The duration of sick leave depends on the medical necessity as certified by a doctor.
- Sick Pay Calculation: Sick pay is calculated based on the employee's average salary over the past 12 months.
- Payment Source:
- The employer pays for the first five days of sick leave.
- Starting from the sixth day, sick pay is covered by the Social Insurance Fund of Ukraine.
- Benefit Rate: The percentage of average salary paid as sick benefit depends on the employee's length of social insurance contributions:
- Less than 3 years: 50% of average salary
- 3 to 5 years: 60% of average salary
- 5 to 8 years: 70% of average salary
- More than 8 years: 100% of average salary
- Process: The employee must notify the employer of their absence and provide a valid medical certificate upon returning to work.
Parental Leave
Ukrainian law provides various types of leave related to childbirth and childcare.
- Maternity Leave: Female employees are entitled to paid maternity leave.
- Duration: Typically 126 calendar days (70 days before the expected birth and 56 days after). In case of complicated birth or birth of two or more children, the post-natal part is extended to 70 days, totaling 140 days.
- Payment: Maternity benefits are paid by the Social Insurance Fund of Ukraine, usually at 100% of the average salary.
- Leave to Care for a Child: One of the parents (mother or father), or another relative who is actually caring for the child, is entitled to unpaid leave to care for a child until they reach the age of three.
- Extension: This leave can be extended until the child reaches the age of six if the child requires home care based on a medical conclusion.
- Job Protection: The employee's job position is retained during this leave.
- Paternity Leave: Fathers are entitled to paid leave upon the birth of a child.
- Duration: Up to 14 calendar days (excluding public holidays).
- Timing: This leave must be taken within three months of the child's birth.
- Payment: Paid by the employer.
- Adoption Leave: Employees who adopt a child are also entitled to leave.
- Duration: 56 calendar days (70 days for adopting two or more children) from the date of adoption, provided the application for leave is submitted no later than three months after the adoption takes effect.
- Payment: Paid by the Social Insurance Fund.
Other Types of Leave
Ukrainian labor law also provides for other types of leave for specific circumstances:
- Study Leave: Employees studying in educational institutions may be granted paid or unpaid leave for exams, coursework, or thesis defense, with the duration depending on the type of study and educational level.
- Bereavement Leave: Employees are entitled to short-term paid leave (typically 3-7 days) in case of the death of a close relative.
- Leave for Marriage: Employees are entitled to paid leave of up to 3 calendar days for their own marriage.
- Leave Without Pay: Employees may be granted unpaid leave by agreement with the employer for various reasons. Certain categories of employees or specific circumstances (e.g., caring for a sick relative, war-related displacement) grant the employee the right to mandatory unpaid leave of a specified duration.
- Sabbatical Leave: While not a standard statutory entitlement for all employees, longer periods of leave for professional development or personal reasons may be agreed upon between the employer and employee, often without pay, depending on company policy and negotiation.
Understanding and correctly applying these diverse leave policies is crucial for employers operating in Ukraine to ensure compliance with labor legislation and support their workforce effectively.
