Company-wide leave freeze: when the employer may prohibit leave

The employer must in principle take your leave requests into account, unless urgent operational reasons or the priority requests of other employees stand in the way. A general leave freeze is only permissible within narrow limits and needs a factual reason.

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The employer must take your leave requests into account, unless urgent operational concerns or the socially prioritized requests of colleagues stand in the way (§ 7 BUrlG). A blanket freeze without reason is impermissible.

Socially weighty reasons (e.g. school-age children, the leave of the working partner) can give your request priority. Approved leave can only be revoked in genuine emergencies.

What you should do now

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1. Ask for the reason for the freeze
Have the operational reason for the leave freeze stated to you. Without a factual reason it is contestable.
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2. Set out your own priority reasons
Bring up social aspects (children, partner's leave, booked trip); they can give your request priority.
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3. Apply for leave in writing
Submit your application in writing and ask for a prompt decision. If refused, demand a justification.
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4. Prevent forfeiture
If leave threatens to expire at year's end because it was frozen, point this out; leave not granted must not be to your disadvantage.

How to spot the scam

A permanent leave freeze over the whole year without a concrete reason.
Approved leave is revoked without a genuine emergency.
Remaining leave is to expire even though you could not take it because of the freeze.

Frequently asked questions

May the employer impose a leave freeze?

Only for urgent operational reasons and for a limited period (e.g. inventory, high season). A blanket, permanent freeze without a factual reason is impermissible.

Must my leave requests be taken into account?

Yes, in principle. The employer may only refuse them if urgent operational concerns or the requests of others that take priority on social grounds stand in the way (§ 7 BUrlG).

What happens to leave that expires because of the freeze?

If you could not take leave solely because of a freeze, it must not simply expire without replacement. Point this out in good time; in case of doubt it is to be carried over or compensated.

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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.