Official Ruling: Workers' Holidays Cannot Start on a Friday to Avoid Losing Vacation Days

If your work schedule is Monday to Friday, your holidays should not start on a Friday. Starting them on a Saturday or Sunday, or a Friday, means losing vacation days because they are counted as natural days.

Don't get caught out with your holidays. It might seem trivial, but starting your days off on a Friday can miccionan you lose actual rest time. The key is how those days are counted. If your contract states you work Monday to Friday, and you start your holidays on a Friday, that Friday counts as a holiday day. The problem is that Saturday and Sunday, which were already your usual days off, are also deducted from your total. In the end, you lose two days that don't provide any extra rest.

## Counting Natural Days

The **Workers' Statute** sets a minimum of **30 natural days** of holiday per year. This means all calendar days are counted: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If your holidays start on a Friday, that day is added to the count. Then, the trinc Saturday and Sunday, even though you wouldn't be working, are also deducted from your holidays. Imagine you take **15 natural days** starting on a Friday. If you had to start on a Monday, you would have enjoyed **10 working days** of rest. If you start on a Friday, those **15 natural days** include two weekends. Meaning, you are left with **11 working days** of actual enjoyment. The difference, though seemingly small, is one less day of effective rest.

## The Law and Judicial Interpretation

While the law doesn't explicitly state "you cannot start holidays on a Friday," it does establish principles that courts have interpreted. The key idea is that the holiday period should not overlap with your weekly rest days. If your weekly rest is Saturday and Sunday, and your holidays start on a Friday, that Friday "eats into" part of your weekend. The fair approach, according to general interpretation, is for holidays to begin on a working day. For most people who work Monday to Friday, that ideal day is **Monday**. This way, your preceding weekly rest is not affected by the start of your holidays. If your schedule is different, for example, Tuesday to Saturday, your holidays should start on that Tuesday. The important thing is that the start of your holidays does not coincide with a day you already have off for being a weekend or holiday, unless those days are part of your usual working days.

## Collective Agreements and Your Contract

Not all companies operate the same way, and this is where the **collective agreement** you are affiliated with comes into play. Many agreements improve upon the law and establish holidays in **working days**. If your agreement states, for example, that you have **22 working days** of holiday, weekends do not deduct anything. In that case, you could start your holidays on a Friday without issue, because only the days you would actually have to work will be counted. Therefore, before assuming anything, it's best to review your contract and, above all, your collective agreement. That's where the details of how your rest days are calculated and if there are any specificities are laid out. Knowing this ensures you are not being "robbed" of holiday days without realizing it.