Job alternation leave

Last updated 8.1.2025

Job alternation leave before 1.8.2024:

The employee may agree with the employer on taking job alternation leave. The duration of job alternation leave is a minimum of 100 calendar days and a maximum of 180 calendar days. Job alternation leave can also be agreed to be taken in several periods.

The condition for job alternation leave is that an unemployed jobseeker who must have been continuously or partially unemployed at least 90 calendar days before the employment relationship is hired as a substitute for the person going on leave. The duration of unemployment is calculated during the 14 months preceding the start of job alternation leave. 

The unemployment condition does not apply to unemployed persons under 30 years of age who have completed a vocational or higher education degree no more than one year prior. One day’s unemployment is also sufficient if the substitute is under 25 or over 55 years of age at the start of job alternation leave.

Before the start of job alternation leave, the employee must have worked in accordance with the Earnings-related Pensions Act for at least 20 years. A person who has previously received job alternation compensation must work for at least five years from the end of the previous job alternation leave.