Bank holidays in Hungary in 2017

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Hungarian bank holidays in 2017

• 1 January (Wednesday): New Year’s Day
• 15 March (Wednesday): commemoration of the revolution in 1848
• 14 ­– 17 April (Friday – Monday): Good Friday through Easter Monday
• 1 May (Monday): Labor Day
• 4 – 5 June (Sunday and Monday): Pentecost
• 20 August (Sunday): St. Stephen’s Day or the Day of the New Bread
• 23 October (Monday): commemoration of the revolution in 1956
• 1 November (Wednesday): All Hallows Day
• 25 – 26 December (Monday – Tuesday): 1^st and 2^nd day of Christmas

Depending on which day of the week these holidays are each year, the previous or the following day might also be granted to make for a long weekend. In that case, a Saturday is declared a work day instead, to keep the number of work days over the year the same. However, in 2017 this is not the case.

Special days which are not bank holidays

Please note: while only the above days are bank holidays in Hungary, you should keep in mind that around the end of the year there are two “short” days, when most employees are allowed to leave early, shops close around noon, and even public transport switches to night mode around 4 p.m. These are:

• 24 December (Sunday): Christmas Eve
• 31 December (Sunday): New Year’s Eve

As these are both Sundays in 2017, you do not have to worry about them if your employees work on a regular work schedule (Monday through Friday).

Business on bank holidays in Hungary

If you employ workers in Hungary, keep in mind that your employees are not going to work on bank holidays. Of course, you might still needed them to work on these days – either because you are in a business that gives continuous service, like a restaurant, or because most of your clients are from abroad. In that case, you will have to pay your employees double wages (see our article on overtime payment).

When in doubt, you can always consult your accountant or payroll advisor, who calculates the payrolls for you and your employees. They will be able to help you calculate the budget if you need your employees work overtime, and have to pay wage supplements to them.