If sickness prevents a worker from taking annual leave, can the leave be carried forward?
Yes, reaffirmed the European Court of Justice in Sobczyszyn v Skola Podstawowa w Rzeplinie.
Ms Sobczyszyn, a teacher, took convalescence leave provided by a Teachers' Charter and was unable to use her annual leave. The school said that leave had been used during convalescence. A reference was made to the ECJ on the compatibility of the domestic Polish Teachers' Charter with the Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC.
Article 7(1) provides four weeks' annual leave for every worker which is a fundamental tenet of EU social law. Only on termination can payment be made in lieu.
Annual leave accrues during sick leave,Stringer.If scheduled leave coincides with sickness, a worker can designate a different time to take leave,Pereda.The purpose of paid leave is rest and relaxation. Sick leave is for recovery from illness, it is not rest; annual leave can be rescheduled on recovery,ANGED.Whether leave has been scheduled or booked makes no difference: if sickness prevents annual leave, workers must be able to use annual leave at a later date.
With thanks to Daniel Barnett’s employment law bulletin which provided the details of this case.
