06/20/12

Sickness allowance application period shortened to 2 months

Sickness allowance application period shortened to 2 monthsThe application period for the sickness allowance is shortened to 2 months effective 1 June 2012. If sickness absence is prolonged, the employee's fitness for work must be evaluated.

Employers can report pay details for periods when their employees are absent from work either by using the online service for employers or by filing the Y17e form (Employer's pay report). The report will be considered as an application by the employer if it includes pay details for the period during which the employee is on sickness allowance. For example, if an employee falls ill on 5 June, an application for the sickness allowance should be filed on 5 August at the latest. Applications for the partial sickness allowance, too, must now be filed within 2 months of the beginning of part-time employment.

Starting 1 June, Kela will require employers and occupational health providers to react promptly if it looks likely that an employer will remain unfit for work for an extended period of time. Employers must report sickness absences to the occupational health provider if an employee has been absent from work for one month (in one period or over multiple periods).

The occupational health provider must evaluate the employee's remaining capacity for work at the latest once the employee has been paid sickness allowance for 90 working days. These 90 days may consist of a single continuous period of incapacity for work or several such periods over up to 2 years.

This change is being made to enable the early detection of extended sickness absences so as to help employees return to work after a sickness absence.

Additional information