Last updated on January 18, 2024.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Lithuania

Vacation Leave Quota

20 days

Regular full-time workers in Lithuania have the right to a minimum of 20 days of paid vacation (annual leave) each year. Empoloyees who are working six days per week are entitled to 24 days. Part-time workers are also entitled to vacation, but the number of vacation days is prorated.

Schedule and vacation entitlement are defined under any of the following terms:

• stipulations of a collective (bargaining) agreement;
• a mutually agreed-upon arrangement between the workers’ council and the employer;
• the provisions of another relevant agreement or applicable law.

Additional Vacation Days for Tenure and Special Categories

Vacation days increase with an employee’s length of service. Once an employee has completed 10 years at the company, they are eligible for 3 extra days of vacation. Afterward, for every five years of service exceeding the initial 10 years, they are entitled to 1 additional day of vacation.

Certain categories of employees are entitled to longer vacations:

• 35 days: disabled workers, single parents raising a child younger than 14 years, employees under 18 years;

• 41 days: workers under specific working conditions, workers who are performing under mental, emotional, and any kind of nervous stress, and those who face professional risks.

• More additional vacation days: employees who work in dangerous, harmful, or toxic conditions.

Taking a Vacation

Employees have the option to take their vacation in separate segments if they wish, although one of these parts must be at least 14 days.

Eligibility

Vacation leave is given when an employee has completed 6 months of continuous work at the employer.

Carry Over

Carryover of unused vacation days is permitted.

Payout of Vacation

If an employee chooses not to go on leave or can’t take their vacation because of the end of employment, they will be paid in cash for the unused days. This cash payment for unused vacation days is given when any employment contract ends, regardless of how long an employee has worked for the company.

Sick Leave in Lithuania

No upper limit.

In Lithuania, generally, there’s no limit to the number of sick leave days an employee can take. Employees are entitled to paid sick leave until they are ready to continue working or are officially recognized as disabled and incapable of working.

Payout of Sick Leave

It is the responsibility of the employer to cover only the initial 2 days of an employee’s sick leave. The payment for these days must be at a legal minimum of 62.06%, but it can go as much as 100% at the employer’s discretion, as determined and outlined in the employment contract.

After the third day and onwards, social insurance fund - SoDra pays for sick leave at a rate of 62.06% of an employee’s salary.

Sick leave is compansated for the 5 workdays; weekends are not included.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave in Lithuania

126 days

Pregnant female employees in Lithuania are entitled to 126 days of partially paid maternity leave.

This leave is dived into:

• 70 calendar days prenatal;
• 56 calendar days postnatal.

Payout of Maternity Leave

Maternity leave is paid by the government (social security) at a rate of 77.58% of an employee’s regular income. Maternity allowance are paid by Lithuania’s State Social Insurance Fund called SoDra for all 126 days of maternity leave.

An employee must have made had maintained a maternity social insurance record for at least 12 months within the 24 months before the leave to receive maternity benefits. The government also establishes a minimum maternity allowance, which is 6.43 times the basic social benefit. At this point it is €294 per month and €14,07 per day. There is no upper ceiling.

Paternity Leave in Lithuania

30 days

An employee who becomes a father in Lithuania is entitled to 30 days of partially paid paternity leave, available to be taken within the first year following the birth of his child. A father who adopted a child is required to use his paternity leave within 1 year following the granting of custody.

This length of paternity leave is longer than in most countries’ leave laws and is one of the best paternity leave in the world.

Payout of Paternity Leave

Paternity leave is reimbursed by the government at a rate of 77.58% of the regular salary, and it can be diveded into 2 parts. This payment is made, just as for maternity leave, by SoDra (Lithuania’s State Social Insurance Fund).

To receive paternity allowance, an employee must have been insured for at least 6 of the 24 months preceding the leave.

Parental Leave in Lithuania

Paid parental leave may begin after the mother finishes her maternity leave and may last at least until the child’s first birthday. Any of the parents is entitled to take at least 2 non-transferrable months of this leave. Parental leave may be extended up to the child’s second birthday, but the compensation rate is lower in that case.

Payout of Parental Leave

Childcare benefits are paid to a parent or guardian of the child and are based on regular income. The benefit is 60% of the salary if chosen until the child is 18 months old, and varies between 45% and 30% of earnings if extended until the child is 2 years old.

The same as for maternity and paternity leave, SoDra handles this payment.

Bereavement Leave in Lithuania

3 to 5 days

In the unfortunate event of the death of a close family member, employees are entitled to 3 to 5 days of unpaid bereavement leave.

Jury Duty Leave in Lithuania

Required by law.

Employers are required to allow their employees the necessary time off to fulfill their civil rights and duties. This includes when an employee is summoned by the court as a witness, victim, expert, or member of a public organization. Additionally, time off must be granted to participate in state control tasks and other duties as mandated by law.

Military Leave in Lithuania

Military leave is not specified by law.

Voting Leave in Lithuania

Required by law.

An employer must provide leave for employees to vote during elections.

Public Holidays in Lithuania for 2024

• January 1 - New Year’s Holiday

• 16 February - Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania

• March 11 - Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania

• March 31 - Easter

• April 1 - Easter Monday

• 1 May - Labor Day

• May 5 (First Sunday in May) - Mother’s Day

• Jun 2 (First Sunday in June) - Father’s Day

• June 24 - St. John’s Day

• July 6 - Statehood Day

• August 15 - Assumption Day

• November 1 - All Saints’ Day

• November 2 - All Souls’ Day

• December 24, 25 & 26 - Christmas

Sources

1. Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/lithuania

2. Payroll and Benefits Guide Lithuania, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/lithuania/

3. Definitive Guide to Hiring in Lithuania, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/lithuania

4. Maternity Benefit: SoDra, https://www.sodra.lt/en/benefits/information-for-residents/i-want-to-receive-a-maternity-paternity-or-child-maintenance-benefit/i-am-pregnant-maternity-benefit