Updated August 7th 2026
All About Employee Leave & PTO in Georgia
Learn what you need to know about leave requirements in Georgia and how Justworks EOR can help streamline hiring.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO
Employers who hire employees in Georgia must offer employees the minimum required leave. Justworks makes it easy to ensure your leave policies comply without the added effort of sorting through another country’s complex labor laws.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Georgia
Employees in Georgia are entitled to and expect at least the minimum leave entitlements required by law.
Vacation Leave
Employees are entitled to at least 24 working days of paid annual leave per year. In addition, employees are entitled to 15 calendar days of unpaid leave annually upon request.
Employees must be compensated for unused annual leave upon termination of employment.
Sick Leave
Temporary incapacity due to illness may be covered through Georgia’s state social assistance mechanisms, subject to eligibility. Paid sick leave is typically determined by individual employment contracts or employer policy.
Maternity Leave
Employees are entitled to 126 calendar days of maternity leave. In cases of pregnancy complications or multiple births, maternity leave extends to 143 calendar days. Maternity leave is compensated through the state program, subject to statutory limits. Employees on maternity leave are protected from dismissal.
Parental Leave
Employees are entitled to up to 604 calendar days of parental leave, 57 of which are paid through the state program (subject to statutory caps). Parental leave may be shared between parents. Employees are also entitled to leave for adoption. Employers may not terminate employees who are on parental leave.
Public Holidays in Georgia
Georgia observes 17 official public holidays annually, which include:
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 2 – Bedoba (Day of Fate)
January 7 – Orthodox Christmas Day
January 19 – Epiphany (Orthodox)
March 3 – Mother’s Day
March 8 – International Women’s Day
April 9 – National Unity Day
Movable (April/May) – Orthodox Good Friday
Movable (April/May) – Orthodox Holy Saturday
Movable (April/May) – Orthodox Easter Sunday
Movable (April/May) – Orthodox Easter Monday
May 9 – Victory Day
May 12 – St. Andrew the First-Called Day
May 26 – Independence Day
August 28 – Mariamoba (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
October 14 – Svetitskhovloba
November 23 – St. George’s Day
Employees who are required to work on a public holiday must receive additional compensation or a substitute rest day.
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