Days Between Dates: How to Count Legal and Employment Deadlines
thecalculator.tech
17 June 2026 · 4 min read
Learn the difference between calendar days and working days, how public holidays and weekends count in legal deadlines, and avoid costly mistakes with cut-off dates.
Calendar days vs. working days
Calendar days are all days, including Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Working days are only business days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and official public holidays. Most deadlines in private law (contracts, insurance) count in calendar days; many administrative and procedural deadlines use working days.
Most common employment deadlines
- •Resignation notice: 15 calendar days (or as set by collective agreement)
- •Challenging dismissal: 20 working days from notification
- •Applying for unemployment benefit: 15 working days after termination
- •Probation period: calendar days per agreement (typically 6 months for technical staff, 2 months for others)
What if the deadline falls on a public holiday?
In procedural and administrative law, if the last day of a deadline is a Saturday, Sunday or national public holiday, the deadline is automatically extended to the next working day. For calendar day deadlines in private law, this does not happen automatically — it depends on the contract.
Public holidays to know
Spain has national, regional and municipal public holidays. National holidays are the same throughout the country (New Year, Epiphany, Holy Thursday and Friday, National Day, All Saints, Constitution Day, Immaculate Conception, Christmas). Regional and municipal ones vary and together total up to 14 public holidays per year.
For important legal deadlines, always verify with a lawyer or advisor the exact rules applicable to your situation.
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