A legal professional from the Russian Lawyers Union notes that for 2024 the most advantageous periods to take a vacation fall in July and October, each containing 23 working days. This observation stems from a routine analysis of monthly workloads and payroll cycles, as reported by RIA News.
The method used to determine holiday pay is straightforward: the average daily earnings for vacation compensation is obtained by dividing the total pay accrued over the last 12 calendar months by 12, and then by 29.3, the latter figure representing the typical number of calendar days in a month. This calculation creates a baseline that can help employees estimate their expected holiday pay more accurately and plan time off accordingly.
From this calculation, the legal expert concludes that to maximize holiday pay, workers should prefer months that feature the highest number of working days. In this framework, January 2024 is highlighted as a notably unprofitable period for taking time off, since it contains 17 working days, and months with additional public holidays tend to reduce the amount of paid leave per day if taken in those windows.
The broader takeaway is that many workers aim to have vacations treated as a benefit offered by employers rather than as a standalone request. They look for opportunities where the combination of working days and holiday bonuses aligns with their financial and personal plans, seeking to optimize both time away and income during leave periods.
Previously, experts have discussed whether January vacations are worth it, weighing the practical implications of shorter workweeks, potential productivity dips, and the overall impact on annual leave or bonuses. This ongoing dialogue reflects a common workplace consideration across different regions and employment policies, where the timing of holidays can influence both earnings and work-life balance.