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Leave in Finland
Maternity, paternity, and parental leave in Finland
Adoption leave in Finland
Other leave in Finland
Public holidays in Finland
Protect your employees and your business
Paid time off in Finland
Employees in Finland are entitled to paid time off work for various reasons. For example, every employee has the right to at least a certain amount of annual leave for holidays each year, according to Finnish labour law. Employees are also entitled to sick leave, maternity, paternity, and parental leave.
These entitlements are primarily defined by Finnish labour legislation. However, collective bargaining agreements provide employees with additional rights in many cases. Some employers also choose to provide other types of leave as a means of attracting and retaining employees.
As an employer in Finland, you’ll need to understand the various types of leave that your employees are entitled to, plus additional entitlements granted by any relevant collective bargaining agreements that apply. You’ll also need to decide whether you’ll include additional leave in your individual employment contracts, which can be a valuable part of your employer value proposition. Read on to learn everything you need to know about paid time off in Finland.
Leave in Finland
Employees in Finland have the right to paid annual leave under the Annual Holidays Act, which entered into force in April 2005. Collective bargaining agreements can provide employees with additional leave, but not less than the amount stipulated by the Annual Holidays Act.
Similarly, employers can choose to offer more generous leave allowances to their employees but must provide at least as much leave as guaranteed by the Annual Holidays Act and the relevant collective agreements.
How does annual leave work in Finland?
The holiday year in Finland runs from 1 April to 31 March each year. During the first year of employment, employees accrue holiday at the rate of two days per month. After the first year, they have an annual entitlement of 30 days. However, leave includes Saturdays as working days even if the employee doesn’t normally work on Saturdays. That means that the standard annual leave entitlement in Finland is five weeks.
Employees must take at least two weeks of their leave as an uninterrupted period. Employees typically take their main holiday between 2 May and 30 September, though it’s possible to take leave outside of the usual holiday season with the employer’s agreement. Employees can also choose to convert part of their leave into shorter working hours.
Holiday pay and bonuses in Finland
Employees receive holiday pay while they’re on annual leave in Finland. For holidays lasting more than six days, they must receive their pay before the holiday begins. For shorter holidays, they can be paid on their normal payday.
It’s also customary for employees to receive a holiday bonus in addition to their usual pay, depending on the collective agreement that applies. For example, they may be entitled to an additional 50% of their holiday pay as a bonus. This is usually paid in connection with the employee’s summer holiday.
Sick leave in Finland
Employees in Finland are entitled to paid sick leave if they are too unwell to work. The first ten days of sick leave are paid for by the employer as long as the employee has been engaged for at least one month. After the first ten days, employees are entitled to a benefit amounting to half of their usual wages through the social security system, Kela. Collective bargaining agreements may provide different obligations for employers.
Maternity, paternity, and parental leave in Finland
Among other things, Finland is known for its robust protections for parents and families. This means that employees in Finland are entitled to time off work when they or their partner have a baby. Employers in Finland need to be aware of their employees’ entitlements to ensure compliance with the law.
Maternity leave in Finland
Birthing parents in Finland are entitled to 105 working days of maternity leave. Leave usually begins 30 working days before the birth. It’s possible to start maternity leave as early as 50 days before the birth, but the total allowance is still 105 working days.
Employees are allowed to work during maternity leave if this can be done without endangering the mother or the child. However, they must take leave from at least two weeks before their due date until at least two weeks after the birth.
Paternity leave in Finland
Fathers or secondary parents in Finland are entitled to a total of 54 days of paternity leave when their partner gives birth. They can take between one and 18 of these days at the same time as the mother while receiving the paternity allowance. The remaining days must be taken when the mother is not receiving a maternity or parental allowance. Fathers can also choose to take all 54 days of paternity leave after the mother’s maternity leave is over. In any case, they must take all of their leave before their child’s second birthday.
Parental leave in Finland
Parents in Finland have the right to 158 days of full-time or part-time parental leave, to be shared between the two parents. Parents can choose to take leave in turns, with each parent taking up to two blocks of at least 12 working days.
Pay for maternity, paternity, and parental leave in Finland
Maternity and paternity leave in Finland are usually not paid unless a collective agreement says otherwise. Parents are entitled to a parental allowance through the social security system, which they can receive for a total of 320 days. Mothers are also entitled to claim the pregnancy allowance for up to 40 days. The amount an employee receives is based on their income.
Part-time parental leave in Finland
Employees in Finland can choose to use their parental leave to work a part-time shift pattern with their employer’s agreement. For example, employees could agree to work three days per week, taking the other two days as leave. The terms of such an agreement must be agreed between the employer and the employee.
Adoption leave in Finland
Adoptive parents are entitled to more or less the same parental leave in Finland as birth parents. They must meet the same conditions in order to be granted this leave, and it must be taken within two years of the adoption.
Other leave in Finland
There are also various other reasons why employees may be entitled to take unpaid or paid leave in Finland. Here are some other leave types you might come across.
Education leave in Finland
Employees who have worked for their employer for at least a year are entitled to up to two years of unpaid education leave. This can be taken in instalments over a period of up to five years. Employees who have worked for their employer for more than three months but less than a year can take up to five days of unpaid leave for study purposes.
Compassionate leave in Finland
Although there is no legal requirement for compassionate leave in Finland, it’s common for employers to provide a few days of leave in the case of a bereavement. This is usually unpaid.
Childcare leave in Finland
Employees can take unpaid leave to take care of a child under the age of three, or an adoptive child for up to two years after their adoption (regardless of their age).
Job alternation leave in Finland
Job alternation leave is unpaid leave given without a specific reason for an extended period. It involves drawing up a job alternation agreement between the employer and the employee. Employers must also report their employees’ leave to the Employment and Economic Development Office before the leave begins.
Public holidays in Finland
There are 11 public holidays per year in Finland. These are a mixture of religious holidays and nationally significant days such as Independence Day.
Public holidays are usually days off work for employees in Finland, but this is not defined by law. Collective bargaining agreements, on the other hand, may require employees to be given the day off. The only day that is a mandatory day off work is Independence Day.
Are public holidays paid in Finland?
For salaried employees, public holidays are paid even if the employee doesn’t work. If an employee does work on a public holiday, they must be paid at a rate of 200% of their normal wages. Hourly workers get a paid day off on Independence Day but may not get paid time off on other public holidays.
Public holidays in Finland in 2024
Here are the public holidays observed in Finland in 2024:
1 January
New Year’s Day
6 January
Epiphany
29 March
Good Friday
31 March
Easter Sunday
1 April
Easter Monday
1 May
Labour Day
9 May
Ascension Day
19 May
Whitsun
21 June
Midsummer Eve
22 June
Midsummer’s Day
2 November
All Saints Day
6 December
Independence Day
24 December
Christmas Eve
25 December
Christmas Day
26 December
Second Day of Christmas
Protect your employees and your business
As an employer in Finland, you need to understand your employees’ rights and entitlements. But keeping up with them can be a lot of work.
When you hire workers with CXC, we’ll ensure your engagements are in line with all local, national and international employment regulations. That way, your workers will get their benefits they’re entitled to, and your business will be protected from risk.
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