Are you dreading flu season? Maybe those leave days are already piling up?
When your child gets sick, it’s all hands-on deck, and you are faced with the challenge of balancing work and caregiving. It can get very stressful, but that makes it all the more important to know which rules apply to you and your situation.
This article outlines the rules in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, covering time off and financial support.
Norway
In Norway, employees are entitled to "omsorgsdager" (care days) when their child is sick. Parents can take up to 10 days per year per parent (or 15 days if they have more than two children), while single parents receive double the allowance. If the child has a chronic illness or disability, additional days may be granted. During this time, employees typically receive full pay, covered by their employer and reimbursed by the national insurance scheme.
Sweden
Swedish employees can take "vab" (temporary parental leave for a sick child) through the Försäkringskassan (Swedish Social Insurance Agency). Parents can receive compensation for up to 120 days per year per child under 12 (or older if the child has special needs). The compensation covers around 80% of the employee’s salary up to a capped amount. Employers do not to pay wages during vab.
Denmark
Denmark’s rules depend on collective agreements and company policies. There is no statutory right to paid time off when a child is sick, but many agreements allow for 1-2 days of paid leave. If extended time off is needed, parents can use unpaid leave or vacation days. Public employees generally have better coverage, with some agreements allowing full pay for short-term absences.
Finland
In Finland, parents of children under 10 years old have the right to temporary childcare leave of up to four days per illness episode. This leave is generally unpaid unless covered by a collective agreement. Some employers allow paid leave for a few days, but longer absences are considered unpaid unless otherwise stated in a collective agreement. Additionally, if an employee is on sick leave for more than 75 working days during the vacation earning year, or takes parental leave, it affects vacation day accrual. A payroll consultant will ensure these are accounted for correctly.
The Nordic countries have some differences in laws for parents when a child falls ill. Norway offers fully paid care days, while Sweden allows compensated leave for up to 120 days per year. Denmark and Finland rely more on collective agreements, with Finland allowing time off but without pay. While Denmark offers some paid short-term leave, longer absences typically require using vacation days.
The key takeaway is that if you are a working parent in the Nordics, your rights depend on where you live – and in some cases, your employer’s policies.