Europe Court: Sick Workers Can Retake Vacations

Unemployment may be on the rise in Spain and throughout Europe, but those lucky enough to have jobs can enjoy this ruling: Workers who get sick on vacation are entitled to take a new vacation, reports the New York Times. The EU court ruled in favor of Spanish department store workers who filed suit over the principle, and the decision applies to all countries in the bloc.

“The purpose of entitlement to paid annual leave is to enable the worker to rest and enjoy a period of relaxation and leisure,” explained the European Union's Court of Justice. "The purpose of entitlement to sick leave is different, since it enables a worker to recover from an illness that has caused him to be unfit for work." (More Europe stories.)