Each Nordic country offers unique laws and benefits to ensure parents can balance work and family life effectively. This overview shows a detailed look at the parental leave policies in these countries.
Sweden
Leave period
Parents in Sweden are entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave per child, with an additional 180 days per child in cases of multiple births. Each parent has 90 days exclusively reserved for them, while the remaining 300 days can be shared.
Parental leave in Sweden can be taken as a continuous period or split into parts until the child turns 12 years old. Parents also have the option to take partial leave, allowing them to reduce their working hours. For children born after January 1, 2014, only 96 days can be saved after the child turns 4 (132 days for twins).
As of July 1, 2024, parents can transfer up to 90 leave days to other individuals, such as relatives, if the recipient is insured for parental benefits. Parents with joint custody may transfer 45 days each.
Simultaneous leave (Double days)
Parents can now take up to 60 of the 480 days simultaneously, doubling the previous limit of 30. This applies until the child turns 15 months old, or within 15 months of custody for adoptions.
Salary
For the first 390 days of leave, parents are paid approximately 80% of their salary, up to a ceiling. For the remaining 90 days, a lower flat rate applies, and parents with low or no income receive a minimum guaranteed amount.
Additionally, parents can take up to 120 days per year to care for a sick child, with compensation at about 80% of their income. Fathers or the other parent in same-sex couples are entitled to 10 days of leave in connection with the birth or adoption of a child.
Notification and return to work
Employees must notify their employer at least two months before leave or as soon as possible. Transferred leave days follow the same rules. Employees may resume work at the same extent as before, though employers can temporarily postpone their return if the leave was meant to last longer.
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Denmark
Leave period
Denmark offers parents a total of 52 weeks of parental leave per child, which can be divided into different segments before and after the birth. Mothers are entitled to 18 weeks of maternity leave, with four weeks available before the expected birth date and 14 weeks after the birth. Fathers are entitled to two weeks of paternity leave, which can be taken during the first 14 weeks after the birth of the child. After the initial 14 weeks of maternity leave, parents can share an additional 32 weeks of leave. This leave can be taken simultaneously, consecutively, or at different times within the child’s first year. Parents can also extend their leave by up to 14 additional weeks, bringing the total potential leave to 66 weeks, albeit at a reduced benefit rate.
Salary
Parental leave benefits are generally paid by the state and are calculated based on the parent’s earnings, though there is a ceiling on the maximum benefit.
Adoptive parents are entitled to the same leave as biological parents, and leave can be taken before the adoption if needed to bond with the child. Same-sex couples have the same rights to parental leave as heterosexual couples, with both partners able to share the leave in the same manner.
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Finland
Leave period
Pregnancy leave starts anywhere from 14 to 30 working days before their baby's due date. This pregnancy leave spans 40 working days and must be taken consecutively, irrespective of the actual birth date. If the baby is born before the pregnancy leave begins, the leave will automatically start on the next working day following the birth. Following pregnancy leave, parents are entitled to 320 working days of parental leave per child, which includes working days from Monday to Saturday, excluding national holidays. This leave is evenly split between both parents, granting 160 working days each. Notably, parents can transfer 63 of their parental leave days to another caregiver. In addition, both parents can simultaneously take up to 18 working days of pregnancy or parental leave.
Salary
Employees are also offered the flexibility to claim parental allowance during chosen times until the child reaches two years old, or two years from the adoption placement. This flexible approach allows parental leave to be taken in short periods or even single days, accommodating various family needs.
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Norway
Leave period
In Norway, parents are entitled to a total of 12 months of parental leave. The leave period is shared between the parents, with specific quotas reserved for each. Mothers are entitled to 18 weeks of leave; 12 weeks before the birth, and 6 weeks can be taken after the birth. Each parent is entitled to 1 year’s leave each, for each birth, to be taken after the first year of leave. Fathers can also take additional leave if the mother transfers part of her quota or shared leave to the father.
After the reserved periods for each parent (mother’s and father’s quotas), the remaining leave can be shared between the parents as they wish. This shared period is flexible and can be taken in turns or concurrently by the parents. Parental leave can be taken in one continuous period or divided into several parts. Parents can choose to work part-time and receive a partial parental benefit, allowing them to combine work and leave. Leave can be postponed or extended if both parents agree with the employer.
Same-sex couples have the same rights to parental leave as heterosexual couples, with both partners able to share the leave in the same manner as opposite-sex couples. Adoptive parents are entitled to the same parental leave benefits as biological parents, with the leave used flexibly depending on the needs of the adopted child.
Salary
Parental benefits in Norway are calculated based on the parent’s income, up to a certain ceiling. Parents can choose between 49 weeks of leave with full pay or 59 weeks with 80% of pay. There is a minimum benefit for parents with low or no income.
Caring for a sick child
Parents in Norway are entitled to up to 10 days per year (15 days if they have more than two children) of paid leave to care for a sick child under 12 years old. Single parents are entitled to 20 days per year.
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The parental leave policies of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway offer comprehensive support and flexibility, ensuring both parents can actively participate in childcare. These policies reflect a strong commitment to family welfare and gender equality, setting a high standard for work-family balance.
