Leave Policies in Brazil

Mandatory Leave Policies in Brazil

The annual leave entitlement for a full-time worker in Brazil is 30 days after 12 months of employment. These 30 days are exclusive of public holidays, which are not counted within the annual leave and are otherwise unpaid if they fall outside the leave period.

Additionally, Brazil mandates various types of leave for employees. Below is a table summarizing the key leave types, their durations, and whether they are mandatory:

Public Holidays in Brazil

The employees in Brazil obtain 9 public holidays per year. Brazil has the following national holidays in 2025:

Types of Leave in Brazil

Sick Leave

Employees in Brazil are entitled to up to 15 days of paid sick leave per year, provided they present a medical certificate. During this period, the employer is responsible for the employee's full salary. From the 16th day onward, the National Social Security Institute (INSS) assumes payment, with the calculation based on prior contributions (capped at BRL 7,507.49).

Paid Time Off

After a year of service in Brazil, employees are entitled to at least 30 days of annual paid leave, in addition to public holidays. The leave, calculated as a month's salary plus one-third as a bonus, is paid two business days before it starts. Brazil's Labour Reform allows the leave to be split over three months, with each segment no less than 14 days and the remaining days not less than 5.

Maternity Leave

Pregnant employees in Brazil with more than three months of service are entitled to 120 days of paid maternity leave, covered at 100% of their average salary by the employer. The government provides reimbursement through tax deductions for the same month. The Empresa Cidadã program allows an extension of up to 60 days, with continued full salary payment by the employer.

Paternity Leave

Fathers in Brazil are entitled to 5 days of paid paternity leave, covered at 100% of their average salary by their employer. It is extendable by 15 days under the Empresa Cidadã program.

Parental Leave

There is no additional or separate parental leave policy beyond maternity and paternity leave in Brazil.

Bereavement Leave

Employees may take up to 2 consecutive days of paid leave in the event of the death of a family member.

Care Leave

Employees receive 30 days of annual paid leave to attend to the urgent needs of a family member below 12 years old and 15 days for an older family member.

Best Practices for Implementing Leave Policies in Brazil

 
• Stay Informed: Regularly update policies to align with labor laws.
 
• Clear Communication: Inform employees about leave entitlements and procedures.
 
• Accurate Records: Maintain detailed records of leave.
 
• Work-Life Balance: Encourage employees to use their entitled leave.

Providing Leave Benefits in Brazil With an EOR

A competitive compensation package is critical to attract and retain the best talent, but every country different regulations, customs and expectations. That’s the advantage of using a trusted Employer of Record like Playroll to manage benefits for your global team. They can:

• ‍Handle the benefits admin: Playroll ensures compliant contracts with built-in statutory checks. Add region-specific premium benefits, while we handle administration and employee claims. Manage leave, expenses, and more – all in one easy dashboard.
• ‍Run global payroll: An EOR will act as your payroll provider, paying your employees on your behalf in the local currency. The company will also have in-depth knowledge of local tax codes, regulatory practices, and everything else that goes into managing global payroll.
• ‍Alleviate compliance concerns: Different countries each have their own federal and local laws governing employee payments. An EOR helps ensure that you are compliant with the unique set of laws for any country in which your company operates. This is extremely important since a compliance slip-up can result in heavy fines or even a lawsuit.