Temporary Child-Care Leave during a Child’s Illness

According to the Finnish Employment Contracts Act, a parent is entitled to be absent from work up to four days if their child or a child permanently living in their household who is under 10 years of age suddenly falls ill. The precondition is that both parents are employed elsewhere than at home or that the parent at home is committed to such activities which prevent nursing the child or that the parent at home cannot nurse the child because of their own illness. A parent living in a different household than the child is entitled to temporary child-care leave as well.

The Finnish Employment Contracts Act does not obligate the employer to pay the employee a salary for the temporary child-care leave. However, almost all collective bargaining agreements provide that the employee is entitled to salary for temporary child-care leave. The rules applicable to such are usually the same as those in respect of the employee’s absences due to their own illness.

At the employer's request, the employee is required to provide a reliable explanation of the reason for the temporary child-care leave. A medical certificate is primarily considered to be reliable.