Fewer than 1% of private sector workers in Belgium made use of new legislation allowing them to carry over unused statutory leave days to the following year, according to a study published by HR services provider Acerta Consult.
The report, based on real data from 574,000 workers across 44,000 employers, provides insights into how employees are utilizing their leave entitlements.
The legislation, introduced to offer greater flexibility to employees, allows workers to transfer leave days they could not take due to specific circumstances, such as illness, work accidents, maternity leave, or parental leave.
However, the study found that only 0.9% of employees in the private sector opted to roll over their unused leave into 2025.
Understanding the Transfer Rule
Marijke Beelen, an expert in leave at Acerta Consult, explained the practical application of the rule. “Take a worker with a five-day working week.
If they plan their last three leave days of 2024 for 27, 30, and 31 December, they can carry over these days if they fall ill from 27 December. Because there would be fewer than three working days left in the year, these days can’t be taken in the same year.”
This means that employees must experience one of the qualifying conditions preventing them from taking leave before the year’s end in order to be eligible for the transfer.
The policy is designed to prevent workers from losing their statutory leave due to unforeseen circumstances.
Sectors with the Highest and Lowest Usage
The study also revealed significant variations across different sectors. Among all private sector industries analyzed, the non-profit sector had the highest percentage of workers transferring leave days, with 1.85% taking advantage of the rule.
Conversely, the hospitality sector reported the lowest usage, with just 0.15% of workers rolling over their leave.
The reasons behind these sectoral differences may be linked to work schedules and operational demands. Employees in non-profit organizations may have more predictable workloads, making it easier to plan for leave accumulation.
Meanwhile, the hospitality industry, which relies heavily on shift work and peak seasonal demand, may leave workers with fewer opportunities to carry forward their unused days.
Breakdown of the Survey Sample
The survey conducted by Acerta Consult reflects a broad cross-section of Belgium’s private sector workforce, taking into account factors such as employment status, gender, age, work regime, region, and company size.
By analyzing both labourers and employees on permanent contracts, the study offers a representative look at leave management trends across the country.
Low Take-Up Raises Questions
Despite the legal framework in place to allow leave transfers, the low adoption rate suggests that many workers either prefer to take their leave within the calendar year or may be unaware of the option.
Some experts believe that greater awareness and clearer communication from employers could lead to an increase in the number of employees benefiting from the regulation in the future.
As businesses and employees continue to navigate Belgium’s evolving leave policies, HR professionals and policymakers may need to assess whether additional measures are required to ensure that workers can fully utilize their leave entitlements without disruption.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
