{"id":793149,"date":"2024-10-06T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-06T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=793149"},"modified":"2024-10-07T10:31:06","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T08:31:06","slug":"how-to-use-15-leave-days-to-score-38-days-off-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/793149\/how-to-use-15-leave-days-to-score-38-days-off-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use 15 leave days to score 38 days off in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In South Africa, the average formally employed worker is entitled to 15 days of annual leave in addition to public holidays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many employees, planning to leave around public holidays is a strategic way to maximise time off while minimising the use of leave days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, South Africans will have one fewer public holiday compared to previous years, but there are still multiple opportunities to take advantage of long weekends, providing plenty of scope to stretch those 15 leave days into extended vacations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By carefully planning around the country’s 12 public holidays, workers can enjoy 38 days of time off while using just 15 leave days, making 2025 a year with more long weekends despite the reduction in holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, while there is one \u2018extra\u2019 public holiday in the offing for observing Freedom Day (27 April and 28 April), this is counter-acted by one of the other public holidays next year falling on a Saturday (Women\u2019s Day, 9 August).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public holidays that fall on a Saturday do not get the observation day as with Sunday holidays\u2014meaning South Africans will have one fewer day off (two if you count the fact there will be no bonus like election day).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that South Africa will, in effect, have a flat 12 days of public holidays next year\u2014no freebies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Date<\/th>Day<\/th>Holiday<\/th><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1 January<\/td>Wednesday<\/td>New Year\u2019s Day<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
21 March<\/td>Friday<\/td>Human Rights Day<\/td>Long weekend<\/td><\/tr>
18 April<\/td>Friday<\/td>Good Friday<\/td>Long weekend<\/td><\/tr>
21 April<\/td>Monday<\/td>Family Day<\/td>Long weekend<\/td><\/tr>
27 April<\/td>Sunday<\/td>Freedom Day<\/td>Long weekend<\/td><\/tr>
28 April<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/td>Monday<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/td>Public holiday Freedom Day observed<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/td>+1<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
1 May<\/td>Thursday<\/td>Workers\u2019 Day<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
16 June<\/td>Monday<\/td>Youth Day<\/td>Long weekend<\/td><\/tr>
9 August<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/td>Saturday<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/td>National Women\u2019s Day<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/td>-1<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
24 September<\/td>Wednesday<\/td>Heritage Day<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
16 December<\/td>Tuesday<\/td>Day of Reconciliation<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
25 December<\/td>Thursday<\/td>Christmas Day<\/td>Long weekend<\/td><\/tr>
26 December<\/td>Friday<\/td>Day of Goodwill<\/td>Long weekend<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For those seeking to maximise their time off, 2025 offers some excellent opportunities. For instance, if an employee uses leave around the Easter holidays, they can create an extended break lasting from Friday, 11 April until Monday, 5 May, using only nine leave days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking off from 11 to 17 April and 22 April to 2 May creates a 24-day vacation spanning four weekends and four public holidays\u2014perfect for a lengthy rest or travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This, including the rest of your three leave days, works out to 38 days off when combining weekends alongside the leave and public holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Optimised leave plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

March\/April: Human Rights Day to Easter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n