In principle, the employer cannot refuse to grant partial childcare leave. The employer may only refuse if taking time off would cause serious inconvenience to the employer’s operations.
Workplace situations that would provide the employer with grounds to refuse to grant leave are rare. If the employer refuses, the employee should ask for an explanation of the reasons and contact their union representative or Tehy’s advocacy specialists.
Employees may be granted partial childcare leave to care for a child until the end of the second school year of the child’s basic education (31 July).
If a child starts their compulsory education earlier, at the age of 6, partial childcare leave is available until the end of the child’s third school year. Partial childcare leave is also available to parents of children with a disability or long-term illness who are in need of special care until the child turns 18.
Employees must apply to the employer for partial childcare leave two months before the leave is due to start. The employee and the employer can agree on the leave and the more detailed arrangements for it as they wish.
Parents on partial childcare leave may be entitled to partial care allowance from Kela.