Holidays

• 1st – New Year’s Day
• 6th January – Epiphany 
• 4th April – Easter
• 5th April – Easter Monday
• 25th April – Liberation Day
• 1st May – Labour Day 
• 2nd June – Republic Day
• 15th August – Assumption of Mary
• 1st November – All Saint’s Day
• 8th December – Immaculate Conception Day
• 25th December – Christmas Day
• 26th December – St. Stephen’s Day

There are also 10 regional holidays observed in certain cities and territories in Italy:

• 25th April – Feast of St. Mark (Venice only)
• 28th April – Sa die de Sa Sardigna (Sardinia only)
• 24th June – Feast of St. John the Baptist (Florence, Genoa, Turin only)
• 29th June – Saint Peter and Saint Paul (Rome only)
• 15th July – Feast of St. Rosalia (Palermo only)
• 19th September – Feast of St. Gennaro (Naples only)
• 4th October – Feast of St. Petronius (Bologna only)
• 2nd November – Feast of St. Giusto (Trieste only)
• 6th December – Feast of St. Nicholas (Bari only)
• 7th December – Feast of St. Ambrose (Milan only)

Paid Time Off

PTO (Paid Time Off)

• Vacation/Annual Paid Leave

All employees are entitled to annual paid leave. The Civil Code provides for a statutory minimum leave of eight days, for domestic employees only. Minimum leave of all other employees is determined by collective agreements, which generally provide for paid annual leave of not less than four weeks per year. Some agreements foresee additional vacation on the ground of seniority. During their vacation, employees receive normal pay, excluding only indemnities connected to the actual work.

• Rollovers and payout of unused hours

• Use-it-or-lose-it policy 

The remainder of the weeks must be used within 18 months of the end of the accrual year.

• PTO payout at the termination

Except in the case of the termination of employment, an employer cannot replace the right of the employees to benefit from the minimum annual holiday entitlement with payment in lieu thereof. On the other hand, it is possible for the employer to pay the indemnity in lieu only with regard to the annual holidays exceeding the above-mentioned minimum period of four weeks.

Maternity Leave, Child Raising Leave, Parental Leave

Maternity Leave

Maternity leave is compulsory for female workers, from two months before until three months after childbirth. Pre-childbirth leave can start at an earlier date than two months, if the worker’s work is dangerous for her health or that of the unborn child. On the other hand it is possible to postpone pre-childbirth leave in order to increase the leave granted after childbirth.

During maternity leave, the employee is entitled to 80% of her regular salary, which is paid by the employer who then claws back such amounts from INPS.

Paternity Leave

Fathers are entitled to leave for three months after birth, where the mother’s caring for the child had become impossible due to illness or death.

Parental Leave

During the first 12 years of the child, each parent is entitled to a period of absent from work of 6 months. If both parents take the parental leave, then they are entitled to a maximum period of 10 months combined. If there is only one parent, he/she is entitled to a parental leave of 10 months.

Adoption Leave

Both parents of an adopted child are entitled to a paid leave for three months after the effective introduction of the child into the family.

Sick Leave

Sick Leave

The average period of sick leave is about one year. During this time, the employee is fully paid (by the employer or by Social Security). Beyond this period an employee is usually entitled, under collective agreements, to a further period of unpaid leave. They are entitled to receive 30 percent of their regular monthly pay for 6 months (paid from Social Security).

Child Care Leave

Both parents have equal right to leave in case of a child’s illness; without limitation for the first three years of age and for five days a year until age eight.

Jury Duty Leave, and Voting Leave

Not specified.

Bereavement Leave

Employees are entitled to a special leave with or without pay due to a death of their family members.

Military Leave

In case of military service, job security and seniority are guaranteed to all employees (Sect. 2111 of Civil Code, Act no.653/1940, 303/1946, 370/1955).

The Civil Service of Conscientious Objectors and Service in Underdeveloped Countries  have the same consideration  (Acts no.230/1998 and no.49/1987).

Please consult your local legal counsel to learn more about Italy Leave Laws.

To learn more about laws in various countries, check out our Leave Laws page.