How long is parental leave in Finland?

In Finland, both parents who are guardians of the child are entitled to parental leave for 160 days of parental allowance. Key aspects of parental leave in Finland include:

• An employee is entitled to take parental leave for a maximum of four separate periods, with each period having a minimum length of 12 working days.
• Parental leave must be taken before the child turns 2 years old.
• Even if eligible for parental allowance for multiple children, an employee can only take a maximum of 4 periods of parental leave within the same calendar year.
• A parent entitled to parental allowance may transfer up to 63 parental allowance days to the other parent, the child’s guardian, or their spouse or cohabiting partner. The recipient of the transferred days is also entitled to parental leave for those days.
• Employers and employees may agree to take parental leave on a part-time basis (partial parental leave).

Additionally, an employee is entitled to two full-time periods of childcare leave to look after a child under the age of 3, or for at least 2 years following the adoption of a child, but not beyond the time when the adopted child starts school. The minimum period for childcare leave is 1 month. Parents of disabled or chronically ill children who need special care are entitled to childcare leave until the child is 18 years old.

Moreover, an employee is also entitled to temporary childcare leave for up to 4 working days to care for a child under the age of 10 who has suddenly become ill. This provision also applies to the so-called 'absent' parent of the child.

What is the process for applying for paternity leave in Finland?

To apply for paternity leave in Finland, the employee must adhere to the following notification requirements:

• If the paternity leave duration exceeds 12 working days, the employer must be notified at least 2 months before the start of the leave.
• If the leave duration is no more than 12 working days, the notification period is shortened to 1 month.

How long is maternity leave in Finland?

In Finland, expecting mothers have the right to three types of family leave under the Health Insurance Act:

• Pregnancy Allowance Days (Pregnancy Leave): This leave consists of 40 working days and starts 30 working days before the estimated date of delivery or, upon agreement, at the latest 14 working days before the estimated date of delivery.

• Special Pregnancy Allowance Days (Special Pregnancy Leave): If an employee at their workplace is exposed to radiation, chemical substances, or infectious diseases and cannot be reassigned to other duties, they can stay away from work as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed.

• Parental Allowance/Leave: This leave begins after the baby is born. Parental allowance is paid by Kela for a total of 320 working days. If a child has two parents, the leave days are divided equally between them. If desired, some parental allowance days can be transferred to the other parent, another custodian, a spouse, or the spouse of the other parent.

How is maternity leave payment calculated in Finland?

In Finland, maternity leave payment is calculated as 100% of the employee's salary.

What is the process for applying for maternity leave in Finland?

To apply for maternity leave in Finland, the employee must notify the employer of the family leave at least 2 months before the leave is set to begin.

How long is the paternity leave in Finland?

In Finland, there is no specific paternity leave. However, fathers are entitled to parental leave until the child turns 2 years old. The following details apply:

• Fathers can take parental leave for a maximum of 320 working days per child, which must be shared equally with the other parent (160 working days each).
• Parental leave is extended by 84 working days for each additional child born.
• A parent may transfer a maximum of 63 weekdays of their own parental leave quota to the child's other parent, the child's guardian, or their own or the other parent's spouse.

What is the process for applying for parental leave in Finland?

In Finland, the process for applying for parental leave involves notifying the employer of the intention to take leave. The key requirements are as follows:

• The standard notification period is 2 months before the start of pregnancy, parental, or childcare leave.
• If the leave is 12 working days or less, the notification period is reduced to 1 month.
• For leave related to the care of an adopted child, the 2-month notification period must also be followed whenever possible.
• If an employee cannot meet the 1-month notification due to their spouse starting work, they may take parental leave with 1 month's notice, as long as it does not cause serious inconvenience to the employer’s operations.
• Family leave can only be interrupted or altered for justified reasons, such as significant changes in the child’s care arrangements, unless otherwise agreed between the employee and employer.