It’s official: from now on, employees have more free time

On June 20, 2019, the European Parliament and the Commission adopted the directive aimed at improving work-life balance. These rules must be applied by all member states from August 2, 2022, but no new relevant regulations have yet been adopted in Hungary. Based on the EU directive, the father can take at least ten working days of paternity leave in the period around the birth of his child. Parents are also entitled to four months of parental leave, of which two months are paid and cannot be transferred between the mother and father. Carer’s leave is also a new concept in the EU, according to which five working days of leave are granted to those who care for their relatives with a serious medical condition. From now on, the right to request flexible working hours belongs not only to parents, but also to caregivers.

We can spend more quality time with our loved ones

“At K&H, we assess from time to time which measures can best be implemented to improve the balance between the work and private life of our colleagues. Increasing free time is one of these, so from 2021, colleagues can take up to 5 extra days of paid leave per year at the expense of the cafeteria allowance,” said József Végh, K&H’s HR director. “This kind of extra-salary benefit is particularly popular among employees with families, and fathers have on several occasions timed these extra days off for the birth of their child. Thus – together with the 5 days currently guaranteed by the state – the 10-day leave of the EU regulation that is now coming into force has been a common practice here since last year,”

he added.