All About Employee Leave & PTO in Costa Rica
Learn about leave requirements in Costa Rica and how Justworks EOR can help you streamline hiring in Costa Rica.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, employee leave policies are an important part of complying with labor laws. Justworks EOR provides expert guidance so your leave policy meets federal standards and employee expectations. With Justworks, you can streamline hiring in Costa Rica to save time, money, and effort. We’ll help you navigate hiring in an unfamiliar labor market by handling HR tasks such as payroll, payroll taxes, benefits, compliance, and more.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Costa Rica
Leave policies in Costa Rica help ensure employees receive time off from work.
Vacation Leave
Employees in Costa Rica who’ve worked at least 50 consecutive weeks for one employer are entitled to at least two weeks of paid time off.
Maternity & Paternity Leave
Under Costa Rican law, new mothers are entitled to maternity leave. Expecting mothers should provide employers with a medical certificate stating when their expected due date is and they should receive one month off prior to this date. Following birth or adoption, new mothers are entitled to at least three months of paid maternity leave, split 50/50 between the social security system and the employer. New fathers working in the private sector are entitled to two paid days of paternity leave for four weeks following birth (eight days total).
Miscellaneous Leave
Under the following circumstances, employees are entitled to additional leave including:
Medical appointments
Voting
Jury summons
Sick Leave
Short-term sick leave is unlimited in Costa Rica. Other types of medical leave can be granted on a case-by-case basis. The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) requires that employers provide a doctor’s note that includes a recommendation for length of sick leave to receive sick pay.
Benefits for Caretakers of the Terminally Ill
A special type of leave is granted to employees who care for those who are terminally ill. Employees must present a request to the attending physician at one of CCSS’s medical centers to get their leave request approved. The social security system then pays the employee a subsidy during the care period. Employers must respect this period and reinstate the employee to the same role, terms, and conditions prior to the employee’s leave.
Public Holidays in Costa Rica
There are 12 public holidays in Costa Rica. All are mandatory paid holidays except August 2, August 31, and December 1.
Public holidays in Costa Rica:
New Year's Day: January 1
Juan Santamaria Day: April 11
Maundy Thursday: Thursday or Friday of Holy Week
Good Friday: Friday of Holy Week
Labor Day: May 1
Annexation of Guanacaste: July 25
Virgin of Los Angeles Day: August 2
Mother’s Day: August 15
Day of the Black Person and Afro-descendent Culture: August 31
Independence Day: September 15
Abolition of National Army Day: December 1
Christmas Day: December 25
Ready to Hire Confidently in Costa Rica?
Justworks EOR makes building your global team seamless by offering local expertise to help you understand the nuances of the talent market in Costa Rica. Save yourself the time and hassle of international hiring today.
