Public Holidays & Workation: What You Need to Know When Working Remotely From Abroad

The concept of workation – combining work and vacation by working remotely from another country – is becoming increasingly popular. But what happens with public holidays when you’re working abroad? What regulations apply to you as a remote worker if you're not in your employer's home country? In this article, we explain what you need to know about public holidays during your workation abroad and how you can manage your working hours flexibly.

Which public holidays apply when working remotely from abroad?

When you work from abroad, the public holidays of the country you're in apply. This means you must follow the local public holidays, regardless of whether they are public holidays in your home country as well.

It’s important to research the public holidays in the country of your workation in advance, as they can affect your daily work schedule. This rule also applies if you're working for an international company while still being employed in your home country.

What does this mean for your work routine abroad?

When a public holiday occurs in the country of your workation, you are generally not required to work on that day. You can enjoy the public holiday according to the local regulations. In many cases, there is also the possibility to adjust your working hours flexibly, for example, by rescheduling tasks or adjusting work hours.

The exact handling of this depends on your employment contract and the specific agreements with your employer. In some cases, you may even have the opportunity to adjust your working hours to make the most of the public holidays in your host country.

What to do if a public holiday falls during your workation?

If a public holiday falls in your host country during your workation, you can generally take the day off. However, it’s advisable to discuss this in advance with your employer to ensure all regulations are considered.

In international companies, additional agreements regarding working hours and public holidays may need to be made, which could go beyond the local public holiday regulations.

What if you miss a public holiday during your workation?

Since you work according to the public holidays of your host country during your workation, the public holidays from your home country do not apply. However, if your employment contract includes specific rules regarding public holidays that you miss during your workation, it’s helpful to clarify this beforehand.

Depending on your employer’s policies, you may be able to adjust your working hours or make up for the missed public holiday at a later date.

Conclusion: Global Flexibility Without Stress

Public holidays during a workation abroad can be complex, but with the right preparation and knowledge of local regulations, you can enjoy your workation stress-free. At Vamoz, we help companies navigate these challenges and successfully implement "Work from Anywhere" concepts. We assist you in developing a customized workation policy that is both legally compliant and attractive to your employees.

👉 Book a Demo to learn how we enable seamless, legally compliant remote abroad programs.