All About Employee Leave & PTO in Italy
Learn what you need to know about leave requirements in Italy and how Justworks EOR can help you streamline hiring.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO
Expanding your team in Italy? Navigating local leave and vacation policies is essential for compliance and attracting top talent. Justworks makes it easy by providing expert EOR support, so you can focus on growing your business with confidence.
With Justworks, you’ll get clear, reliable guidance on building leave policies that align with Italian labor laws, ensuring your team gets the benefits they deserve. From managing local entitlements to streamlining HR processes, we simplify hiring in Italy, so you can scale seamlessly and stress free.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Italy
Employees in Italy are entitled to receive time off for public holidays, maternity/paternity and parental leave, vacation leave, sick leave, and other leaves of absence.
Vacation Leave
In Italy, employees are entitled to a minimum of four weeks, 20 days, of paid vacation leave per year, as mandated by law. Many collective bargaining agreements provide additional days, depending on the industry. Employers must ensure that employees take at least two weeks of leave within the year it is accrued,
Sick Leave
Sick leave entitlements vary based on the applicable National Collective Labor Agreement (CBA), which defines the length of leave and salary coverage. For work-related injuries, employees are protected by job security provisions and receive financial support from both their employer and INAIL (Italian Institute for Insurance of Occupational Accidents and Diseases). Employers provide full pay on the day of the accident and 60% of an employee’s salary between the second and fourth day after an employee is injured on the job. After that, INAIL provides 60% pay from days five to 90, then 75% beyond day 90.
Maternity Leave
Female employees are entitled to at least five months of maternity leave, typically split as two months before and three months after birth. With medical approval, leave can begin one month before birth and extend to four months after. During this period, mothers receive 80% of their salary, paid by the employer and reimbursable by INPS. After maternity leave, employees have the right to return to work and must remain in the same office or city until the child turns one.
Paternity Leave
New fathers are entitled to 10 days of mandatory paid paternity leave, which must be taken within the first five months of the child’s birth, adoption, or foster placement. This leave is fully paid by INPS at 100% of the father’s salary.
Parental Leave
Each parent can take up to six months of parental leave within the first 12 years of their child’s life. If both parents take leave, this can equal a combined maximum of 11 months. Single parents are entitled to the full 11 months. During leave, INPS provides 30% pay for three months, plus an additional month at 80% pay if taken before the child turns six. Parents can take an extra three months at 30% pay. Single parents receive 30% pay for up to nine months. Special provisions apply for parents of disabled children.
Leaves of Absence
Other types of common and excused leaves of absence in Italy include:
Parental Leave for a Sick Child: Parents can take unpaid leave to care for a sick child, and they are entitled to unlimited leave until the child turns three. For children aged three to eight, each parent can take up to five days of unpaid leave per year
Marriage Leave: Employees are entitled to paid leave for their wedding, typically 15 days, as outlined in National Collective Labor Agreements
Blood and Bone Marrow Donation Leave: Blood donors receive a full paid day off for the day they donate, while bone marrow donors get paid leave for exams, donation day, and recovery
Bereavement Leave: Employees can take up to three paid days per year for the death or serious illness of a family member
Military Service Leave: If called to service, employment is suspended, but employees receive a state-provided indemnity for the duration
Public Holidays in Italy
Italy observes 11 public holidays throughout the year, during which employees are entitled to their regular pay. Employees required to work on a holiday receive additional compensation as outlined in their National Collective Labor Agreement. Many regions also recognize a Patron Saint’s Day as an extra holiday. Here’s a list of Italy’s national public holidays:
New Year’s Day – January 1
Epiphany – January 6
Easter Monday – Varies
Liberation Day – April 25
Labor Day – May 1
Republic’s Anniversary – June 2
Assumption – August 15
All Saints’ Day – November 1
Immaculate Conception – December 8
Christmas Day – December 25
St. Stephen’s Day – December 26
Ready to Hire Confidently in Italy?
Build your global team seamlessly with local experts who can help you understand the local labor market while saving you the time and hassle of hiring in Italy.
