Fragen aus dem Arbeitsrecht: Darf der Arbeitgeber genehmigten Urlaub widerrufen?

When an employee has been granted paid leave in advance, the employer cannot simply cancel those days, according to Johannes Schipp, an expert in labor law. This applies even if there are staffing shortages, medical absences, or unexpectedly high workloads. However, the employer and employee can agree to postpone or cancel the leave in consultation.

The only rare exception is in cases of a serious workplace emergency, such as a large-scale fire. In such circumstances, the employer may bring an employee back from their leave if immediate emergency measures are necessary and the employee is indispensable. If the employer cancels the leave, they must compensate the employee for any resulting costs, such as cancellation fees, rebooking expenses, or travel costs.