Leave, rest and holidays: understand your rights for balanced work

The work imposes a sustained pace, but it is equally essential to take time to recharge your batteries. Doctors and psychologists keep emphasizing the importance of these rest periods, beneficial not only for the health of employees, but also for their long -term performance. Indeed, an employee rested is more productive and more efficient. However, some employers, anxious to maintain the continuity of the activity, may be tempted to minimize these moments of relaxation, which can cause tensions. This is where the Labor code intervenes to supervise and protect the rights of employees in terms of leave and rest.

“These rights are essential and cannot be questioned, except in exceptional cases justified by service necessities”, specifies Master Khalil HAFIDIlawyer at the Kenitra bar, guest of the program “Kifach Nja7 Fkhdemti?He insists on the importance, for each employee, of knowing his rights in order to assert them within the framework of his professional activity.

Maître HAFIDI divides rest periods into three main categories:

1. The weekly rest : Each employee is entitled to a rest of at least 24 consecutive hours per week. This rest is often granted on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, but it can also be set to another day, depending on the specifics of the company. For example, in rural areas, it can be the day of the weekly market. This rest may, in some cases, be distributed among several employees, depending on the needs of the company. But in the end, it is up to the manager to manage these periods in a balanced manner, so that the rights of employees are respected without harming the proper functioning of the company.

2. Annual leave : Any employee who has carried out six months of continuous work is entitled to paid leave. The duration of these leave is 1 and a half day for each month worked. In addition, after five years of service, an additional day added, without the total duration exceeding 30 days of actual work. These leaves must be taken in agreement with the employer, which can define the dates according to the necessities of the organization.

3. holidays : Employers are prohibited from having their employees work during these days, with the exception of the nature of certain activities (as in essential services). The holidays are paid as effective work, and their list is defined by law. Among the holidays, there are dates like January 1, Eid al-Fitr, Aid al-Adha, the Labor Day and the anniversary of independence. You should also know that if an employee works during a public holiday, he can benefit either from additional compensation, or from a paid compensatory rest, according to the agreements concluded with his employer.