Rivermate | Georgia flag

Georgia

Vacation and Leave Policies

Understand the regulations on vacation and other types of leave in Georgia

Holiday leave

In Georgia, the Labor Code outlines the legal guidelines for vacation leave, also known as paid annual leave, for all employees.

Minimum Vacation Entitlement

Every employee is entitled to a minimum of 24 working days of paid vacation leave each year. Employees working in hazardous or harmful conditions are granted an additional 15 working days of paid vacation leave.

Accrual and Eligibility

Vacation leave accrues on a monthly basis throughout the employment year. Typically, employees can begin using their vacation leave after they have completed eleven months of service in a given vacation year.

Compensation

During their vacation periods, employees are entitled to their average daily salary in full.

Unused Leave and Termination

If an employee's employment is terminated before they have used their entitled leave, the employer is required to compensate for the unused leave days.

Public holidays

Georgia celebrates a variety of national, historical, and religious holidays throughout the year. These holidays are officially recognized and are observed by the majority of the population.

Fixed Date Holidays

  • New Year's Day (January 1st & 2nd): This holiday marks the beginning of the calendar year.
  • Orthodox Christmas Day (January 7th): This day celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ according to the Julian calendar, which is used by many Orthodox Christian Churches.
  • Victory over Fascism Day (May 9th): This day commemorates the victory over fascism in World War II.
  • Independence Day (May 26th): This day celebrates Georgia's declaration of independence from the Russian Empire in 1918.
  • St. Andrew the First-Called Day (May 12th): This is a religious holiday honoring St. Andrew, who is considered one of the founders of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
  • St. Mary's Day / Assumption of Mary (August 28th): This religious holiday commemorates the dormition and assumption of the Virgin Mary.
  • Svetitskhovloba (October 14th): This religious holiday celebrates the robe of Christ and the living pillar in the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a major landmark of Georgian Orthodoxy.

Holidays With Variable Dates

  • Good Friday (March/April): This Christian holiday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The exact date varies yearly.
  • Easter Sunday (March/April): This Christian holiday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The exact date varies yearly based on the Julian Calendar used by the Georgian Orthodox Church.
  • Easter Monday (March/April): This is the day after Easter Sunday. The exact date varies yearly.

Types of leave

Georgia's Labor Code provides the framework for various types of leave available to employees. Here's an overview of the different kinds of leave:

Vacation Leave

Employees are entitled to a minimum of 24 working days of paid vacation (annual leave) each year. Employees in hazardous conditions are entitled to an additional 15 working days. During vacation leave periods, employees receive their average daily salary.

Sick Leave

Employees generally become eligible for paid sick leave upon completion of a probationary period with their employer (period length may vary). The specific duration of paid sick leave might depend on the length of employment and other factors outlined in agreements and labor regulations. Paid sick leave compensation amounts and duration can vary based on employment duration, workplace policies, and the nature of the illness.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 730 calendar days of total maternity leave, with 183 of those days fully paid. This leave is generally split into pre-natal and post-natal periods. Eligible employees receive maternity benefits covering the 183 days of fully paid leave. Any additional leave periods may be partially paid or unpaid depending on social security and employer policies.

Other Types of Leave

Employees may be entitled to short-term paid leave in the case of the death of a close family member. Employees may also be entitled to a short period of paid leave for their marriage. Additionally, employees may be eligible for paid or unpaid leave for educational purposes, depending on individual agreements and workplace policies.

Rivermate | A 3d rendering of earth

Hire your employees globally with confidence

We're here to help you on your global hiring journey.