How to strategically plan your vacation in 2025 for maximum benefits.

The year is coming to an end, and many organizations are already making plans for employee vacations in 2025. How should you properly plan your vacation? Elvira Toktamys, an entrepreneur and founder of a capital recruitment company, shared all the nuances with inbusiness.kz.

"To take a vacation advantageously, it is necessary to consider various aspects depending on what you consider beneficial. If the goal is to maximize the number of working days, it’s better to choose months with public holidays. However, if you consider the financial side, it’s preferable to take vacations in months without holidays," the expert noted.

This is because vacation pay is calculated based on the average salary. In months with public holidays, this average salary is usually lower, which affects the amount of vacation payments. This applies to both the public and private sectors, as the payroll calculation system is generally similar.

Regarding the division of vacation, according to Kazakhstani labor legislation, an employee must take at least 14 consecutive days off.

"Very often, companies take advantage of the fact that they regulate the division of vacations into two or three parts, although they are not entitled to do so by law. Essentially, this is a violation of legislation and rights, as, besides these 14 days that must be taken as a single vacation, you can take the remaining 10 days one at a time," emphasized Elvira Toktamys.

When dividing vacations, it is important to consider how long the person has already worked. The law allows for vacation to be taken after six months of employment. It is also possible to arrange vacation at the expense of future periods or take unpaid leave by mutual agreement with the employer.

According to the expert, it is optimal to take vacation after nine months of work to utilize all 14 days. For each month worked, two days of vacation are accrued, so after six months, an employee will have 12 days.

For employees of private companies, the personnel expert recommends being attentive and studying their rights. In particular, they should use official sources such as Egov.kz, where current information on labor legislation can be found and vacation days can be calculated correctly. This will help avoid misunderstandings and protect their interests.