Opportunities and Guarantees for Wives of Military Personnel Regarding Taking Leave at Convenient Times
In Ukraine, the regulation of labor relations between employees and employers is governed by current legislation, which provides several guarantees for those fulfilling military service duties.
A particularly relevant issue is leave entitlement for the wives of servicemen, who are partly entitled to additional protections, including the right to arrange their leave at a time that suits them best.
According to applicable regulations, a wife of a serviceman can request a leave independent of the approved schedules, provided she submits an application and confirms her status with documents from the military unit, such as a certificate, a copy of her military ID, or a mobilization order.
This means that employers are obliged to consider her preferences and grant leave at a time convenient for her, which may coincide or differ from her husband’s leave schedule.
These provisions are established in Ukrainian labor laws, particularly in Articles 79 and 80 of the Labor Code, as well as in the Law on Social and Legal Protection of Servicemen and Their Families.
Therefore, if a wife wishes to take her annual leave at a convenient time, she must submit an application along with documentation confirming her husband’s military status.
It is important to note that these guarantees apply specifically to the main annual leave; other types of leave—social, educational, unpaid—are regulated by standard rules and their procedures remain unchanged.
Legislation therefore provides wives of servicemen with the opportunity to utilize their leave at a time that is most suitable for them, offering significant support during challenging times caused by military conflicts.