If you fall ill
Wages during sick leave
If your employment has continued for more than a month before you fall ill, you will receive full salary for at least the day you fell ill and for nine days after the day you fell ill. If you are unable to return to work after these ten days, you can apply for sickness allowance (sairauspäiväraha) from Kela, if you are covered by the Finnish social security.
Read more on the InfoFinland page Finnish social security .
Your employment contract may also list other conditions and you will be paid salary for a longer period of time.
Your employer is entitled to ask you to provide a doctor’s certificate about your illness. If you fall ill and cannot come to work, notify your supervisor of this immediately. Your supervisor will tell you whether you need to get a doctor’s certificate immediately or only on the fourth day of your sick leave.
Sick leave is not a vacation. It is granted so that your body can heal, so during sick leave you cannot endanger the healing process through your own activities.
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela
Sickness allowanceLink redirects to another websiteThe Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela
Applying for sickness allowanceLink redirects to another websiteWhen a child falls ill
When a child under 10 years of age suddenly falls ill, the child’s mother or father can stay at home to look after him/her. This type of temporary child care leave can last for up to four days. The collective bargaining agreement states whether or not salary will be paid for this period.
Read more: Children’s health .