What type of Paid and Unpaid Leaves exist in Finland?

Types of Paid and Unpaid Leaves in Finland

In Finland, various types of leave are available to support employees in managing personal and family responsibilities. These leave options, governed by the Employment Contracts Act and the Sickness Insurance Act, provide essential support during significant life events. Below is an overview of the different types of paid and unpaid leave available to employees in Finland.

1. Maternity/Pregnancy Leave

Expectant mothers in Finland are entitled to maternity leave, which allows for:

Duration: A total of 40 days of pregnancy allowance leave, with 30 days to be taken before the expected birth date.
This leave provides essential time for mothers to prepare for childbirth and recovery afterward.

2. Parental Leave

Parental leave is designed to support both parents during the early stages of their child's life. The total entitlement consists of 320 days, which is divided as follows:

Pregnancy Allowance (Birthing Parent): The birthing parent receives 40 days of pregnancy allowance before childbirth.
Parental Leave: Each parent is entitled to 97 days of parental leave. These days are not transferable between the parents, ensuring equal parental participation.
Transferable Parental Leave: In addition, both the birthing parent and the child's other parent have 63 days each of transferable parental leave, which can be assigned to either parent or another designated caregiver.

This flexible parental leave system allows parents to plan their time off based on family needs and work arrangements. Find more information on parental leave and salary payments during parental leave on the official website: Kela.fi.

3. Child Care Leave

To help parents care for their young children, Finland offers various child care leave options:

Child Care Leave: Parents can take leave until their child turns 3 years old, with 1 month of leave available in either one or two periods. This leave can be taken on a partial or full-time basis.
Partial Child Care Leave: Employees with at least 6 months of seniority during the previous 12 months can take partial child care leave up to the end of the second year when the child is attending basic education, subject to agreement with the employer.
Temporary Child-Care Leave: Parents can take up to 4 working days at a time for temporary child-care leave until the child turns 10 years old.

4. Compelling Family Leave

This type of leave is designed for urgent family situations:

Compelling Family Leave: Employees can take leave for the unforeseen illness or accident of a family member. This leave helps employees manage unexpected family emergencies effectively.

5. Other Absences

Employees may also be entitled to leave for additional family responsibilities:

Absence for Caring for a Family Member: Leave to care for a family member or someone close to the employee can be arranged upon agreement between the employee and employer.

6. Unpaid Leave

In addition to paid leave options, employees may request unpaid leave:

Unpaid Leave: Employees can request unpaid leave, which is subject to the employer’s approval.

This structure ensures employees are well-informed about their rights and can plan their leave according to their circumstances.

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