In Israel, the law mandates that all employees receive paid annual vacation leave. The exact number of vacation days an employee is entitled to depends on their length of service.

Length of Service and Vacation Leave

For employees who work a five-day week, the first five years of service entitle them to a minimum of 12 working days of annual leave. This entitlement increases to a minimum of 17 working days from the sixth year of employment up to the ninth year. After the ninth year, employees can receive up to a maximum of 23 working days of annual leave. It's important to note that these are the legal minimums, and some employers may offer more generous vacation leave policies.

Unused Vacation Leave

Israeli law places a limit on the accumulation of unused annual leave, prohibiting workers from carrying over more than four years of unused annual leave. Vacation leave is considered a social benefit, not a monetary compensation, under Israeli law. This means that employees generally cannot receive payment for unused vacation days during their employment. However, if an employee's employment is terminated, they are entitled to compensation for unused vacation days from the previous four years.

Israel, a land steeped in history and diverse traditions, observes a unique blend of public holidays. These holidays reflect the country's Jewish heritage, national identity, and minority religious celebrations.

Jewish Holidays

• High Holy Days:

  • Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year): This marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days and is a two-day celebration of reflection and renewal.
  • Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): This is the holiest day in Judaism, a day of fasting and prayer for forgiveness.

• Passover: This commemorates the Israelites' exodus from slavery in Egypt. Passover is an eight-day festival marked by a special Seder meal and restrictions on leavened bread.

• Shavuot (Festival of Weeks): Celebrated seven weeks after Passover, Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah to the Israelites at Mount Sinai.

• Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles): This is a week-long harvest festival. Sukkot involves dwelling in temporary huts to commemorate the Israelites' wandering in the desert after the Exodus.

• Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Torah): Celebrated on the day following Sukkot, Simchat Torah is a joyous occasion marking the completion and immediate recommencement of the annual Torah reading cycle.

National Holidays

• Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day): This is a national day of mourning commemorating the Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

• Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers): This is a day of remembrance honoring Israeli soldiers and victims of terror attacks.

• Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day): This marks Israel's declaration of independence. Yom HaAtzmaut is a joyous celebration with parades, fireworks, and national pride.

Minority Religious Holidays

Israel also recognizes religious holidays of its minority populations, including Muslim holidays like Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (commemorating Abraham's sacrifice). Christian holidays like Christmas and Good Friday may also be observed by some sectors of the population.

Israeli labor law guarantees employees a comprehensive package of leave entitlements. Beyond the well-known vacation leave, several other leave categories offer support during various life situations.

Mandatory Leave

Annual Vacation Leave: All employees are entitled to paid annual vacation leave. The minimum number of days depends on years of service.

Sick Leave: The Israeli National Insurance Institute (NII) provides sick leave benefits to employees who are unable to work due to illness or injury.

Maternity Leave: Female employees are entitled to paid maternity leave. Leave duration varies depending on the type of birth and potential complications.

Paternity Leave: Fathers are entitled to paid paternity leave. The current entitlement is for two weeks following the birth of a child.

Non-Mandatory Leave

Parental Leave: Beyond maternity leave, parents (mothers and fathers) can take unpaid parental leave for up to a year following the birth or adoption of a child.

Military Service Leave: Israeli citizens are obligated to serve in the military. The law mandates employers to grant employees leave for military service without jeopardizing their employment status.

Personal Leave: Some employers offer additional paid or unpaid personal leave for various reasons, such as family emergencies or religious holidays not designated as national holidays.

Leave policies beyond mandatory entitlements may vary depending on the specific employment contract and employer's discretion. Employees are advised to consult their employment contract or Human Resources department for a comprehensive understanding of their leave entitlements.