Annual holiday entitlement in Finland: lawyer explains your rights to annual leave

Working in Finland, you’re entitled to annual holiday and holiday bonus pay – in most cases. If any questions about annual holiday should surface, Professionals of Business and Technology will be glad to offer sound advice.

According to the Annual Holidays Act, annual holiday entitlement in Finland is based on the number of holiday credit months earned during the previous holiday credit year. Depending on the length of the employment relationship, the employee is entitled to either 2 or 2.5 weekdays of holiday for each full holiday credit month.

– Basically, for the first year of employment, you earn 2 days per month, and after that, it’s 2,5 days, explains Employment Lawyer Jere Vuorio from Professionals of Business and Technology. 

Annual Holidays Act also states that it is the employer who determines the timing of the annual holiday. 24 days of accumulated holiday must be granted during the summer holiday season and the remaining 6 days (winter holiday) outside it. The holiday must be granted as an uninterrupted period (in most cases).

– The summer holiday season in Finland runs from 2nd May to the end of September, adds Vuorio.

Holiday bonus is 50% of regular holiday pay

While a mandatory annual holiday – that is dictated by law – is a nice thing all by itself, the working population is also very fond of the holiday bonus system. Although not inscribed into law, the holiday bonus pay is included in collective labor agreements of various sectors.

– Generally speaking, the holiday bonus pay is about half of the holiday period pay, says Vuorio.

But what do you do if your employer does not participate in any collective labor agreement?

 – In such an event, you should include a clause about the holiday bonus pay in your work contract, advises Vuorio.

In most cases, the holiday bonus is paid out in June or July, in connection to the paying of the regular salaries. Vuorio notes that sometimes members contact the union about the accuracy of the pay:

– Especially for those who work by the hour, there are often questions, he says. 

Also, in a new employment relationship it is quite customary to agree on an additional holiday for the employee for their first summer – even if no annual holiday would be accrued under the Annual Holidays Act.

– This can be freely negotiated by the two parties, says Vuorio.

Text: Sami Anteroinen

Do you have questions about annual holidays? As a member, you can ask for help from our employment counseling!