In 2025, Kazakhstan is expected to have 246 working days. From the perspective of vacation payouts, the most suitable months for taking leave are April, July, October, and December. These months have the highest number of working days (22 each), which will positively impact the total vacation payments. Taking vacation in August and September is also advantageous, as each of these months has 21 working days. More working days in a month means that vacation pay will be calculated based on a greater number of working hours, thereby increasing the final amount.
Why does the number of working days affect vacation pay?
The basis for calculation is the average daily earnings, which directly depend on the number of working days in the month. The more working days there are, the higher the total vacation payout will be. Therefore, choosing a month with a high number of working days becomes a beneficial strategy, especially for those who want to maximize their payments.
The least advantageous months for vacation
For those focused on the amount of vacation pay, March and May will be the least favorable months. In March 2025, there are only 17 working days, and taking vacation during this month means expecting more modest payouts. In May, there are 19 working days, which also makes it less advantageous for vacation payments.
When planning a vacation, employees face a dilemma: to extend the duration of their leave by attaching it to holidays and weekends, or to choose a month with the highest number of working days for maximum payouts. Adding vacation to holidays allows for savings on vacation days while making the break longer. However, in such cases, one might lose out on the amount of vacation pay, as the number of working days in months with holidays is lower. Therefore, when planning, it’s essential to determine in advance what is more important: a longer break or the amount of vacation pay.
If maximizing the vacation payout is the priority in 2025, then the optimal months for taking a break are April, July, October, and December. However, if the goal is to extend the vacation, it's better to focus on March or May, aligning it with holiday periods. These options can be balanced by alternating vacations in more and less advantageous months.