Extraordinary leave day – when can you claim it

Extraordinary leave is paid time off from work due to exceptional personal circumstances, as defined by the Employment Relationships Act (ZDR-1, Article 165).

The most common reasons for extraordinary leave:

• one’s own wedding,
• death of a spouse, cohabiting partner, or child, including adopted children,
• death of parents or a parent’s spouse, or adoptive parent,
• a serious accident affecting the employee,
• accompanying a child who is a first-grade pupil on their first day of school.

An employee is entitled to at least one day of extraordinary leave for these events, and up to a maximum of seven working days in a calendar year, unless a collective agreement provides for a longer duration.

Accompanying a first-grader: both parents may take one day of leave on the child’s first day of school, upon submitting proof (a certificate of enrolment).

Moving house: moving is not automatically a justified reason for extraordinary leave, but the employer may provide additional paid days in an internal act or a collective agreement.

f you need additional days, you may request unpaid leave from your employer, but this is not guaranteed by law.