What is unpaid leave?
Unpaid leave can be granted to any employee who has used up their annual paid leave or does not wish to use it, usually to handle personal matters. During this period the employee is not paid.
Legal basis
Unpaid leave is governed by the Romanian Labor Code (Law no. 53/2003), as subsequently amended. It is granted only with the employer's agreement; equally, the employer cannot force an employee to take unpaid leave.
How to fill in the request - step by step
- Fill in the header with the employer details and your details (name, role, department).
- State the requested period: start and end dates.
- Optionally, state the reason for the request.
- Add the date and your signature.
- Submit the request for approval to your manager or the HR department.
What the request must include
- Employer details (name, header)
- Employee details (name, role, department)
- The unpaid leave period
- Date and employee signature
- Space for the employer approval
Good to know
Unpaid leave is not granted automatically - it requires the employer's agreement. During this period the employment contract is suspended, and the period is generally not counted as length of service.
Frequently asked questions
No. Unpaid leave is granted only with the employer's agreement.