What happens if you fall ill during a holiday in Denmark?

Under the Danish Holiday Act, employees have the right to postpone or interrupt holidays if they fall ill, either before or during their planned time off. This ensures employees do not lose holiday entitlement due to unexpected illness, while maintaining eligibility for sickness benefits under certain conditions.


Falling Ill Before a Holiday Starts

If you fall ill before your holiday begins, you can postpone the holiday. However, strict notification requirements apply:

  • You must report your illness no later than the first day of your planned holiday.

  • Notification must occur at the time your working hours would normally begin on that day.

  • Once you recover, you must report that you are well.

  • At the same time, you must inform whether you wish to take the remaining holiday as originally planned or return to work.

Failure to report your illness properly or in time may result in losing the right to postpone the holiday.


Falling Ill During a Holiday

If you become ill during your holiday, you may interrupt the holiday and request to reclaim the affected days, under the following conditions:

  • You are required to report the illness to your employer immediately and request the holiday be interrupted.

  • You may be entitled to sickness benefits, but only after a waiting period.

  • You must provide appropriate medical documentation to prove the illness during the holiday period.

  • If you choose to continue the holiday despite being ill, you are not entitled to sickness benefits for that period.


After the Holiday Ends

If you are still ill when your holiday ends, and you meet the normal eligibility criteria (such as working hours in the past 6 months), you are entitled to sickness benefits from:

  • Your employer, if they are still within the first 30 days of the sick period, or

  • The municipality, from day 31 onward, as part of the national sickness benefit scheme.

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