Time off for family reasons
Employees with families in Finland have various opportunities to take time off work to care for small children. The employee is entitled to return to the same or corresponding work with the employer when such family leave ends.
The total length of maternity and parental leave is 263 weekdays, i.e. days excluding Sundays and public holidays. This begins with a maternity leave period of 105 days, after which parents may decide whether the mother or father takes the remaining parental leave. Fathers are entitled to paternity leave of 18 days with corresponding paternity leave benefits to be taken while the mother is on leave. Under certain conditions fathers may also take a further 12 days of paternity leave.
The Social Insurance Institution pays income-related compensation to employees during family leave. Some collective agreements guarantee full wages for part of the maternity leave period. Please also note that these benefits are payable only when the person concerned is considered to have a permanent home (domicile) in Finland.
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