Left boss Wissler demands compensation for holidays on weekends

With a view to the holidays at Christmas and New Year, which fall mainly on weekends this year, the Left Party has demanded compensation for such cases. "The compression of work continues to increase," party leader Janine Wissler said on Friday on the "t-online" website as a reason. She referred to examples of equalization schemes in other European countries.

"We now have a very large number of people who suffer from chronic overload, burnout and depression," said Wissler. "That's why we think it's necessary and right to make up for such holidays." She thus confirmed a move that her party had already made several times.

The Left boss pointed out that workers in Germany in 2022, as in 2021, would have significantly fewer days off than elsewhere in Europe. "Other countries such as Great Britain, Belgium or Luxembourg are much further along than Germany and compensate for such days," said Wissler.

This year, Christmas Day and New Year's Day both fall on a Sunday. This year, a total of three public holidays fell on a weekend, including May 1st. In 2021 there were even four.

Different regulations apply to such cases in other countries. If a public holiday falls on a weekend in Great Britain or Spain, it should be made up for on the following working day. In Luxembourg, workers must be offered a day off for a holiday swallowed up by the weekend within three months, in Belgium throughout the year.

"Kick-off Politics" is WELT's daily news podcast. The most important topic analyzed by WELT editors and the dates of the day. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, among others, or directly via RSS feed.