COUNTRY

Employment contracts in Finland may be in written, oral, or electronic form. It must include the employer’s and employee’s identities, the date employment will begin, the employee’s responsibilities, salary, work hours, annual leave, notice period for terminating the contract, and probation period. An employment contract is valid indefinitely unless there is a specific fixed term with a fair reason.

The standard workweek in Finland is 40 hours with eight hours a day, and a 37.5-hour workweek for white collar employees. The workweek cannot exceed 48 hours over a four-month period. Overtime is paid at 150% of the basic rate for the first two hours of overtime and double beyond that. Employees can refuse overtime.

Employees receive nine days of paid sick leave in Finland, which is fully paid after the employee's first month of service. Sick leave is funded by social security for up to 300 days.

Female employees receive 105 days of paid maternity leave in Finland, which begins 30 to 50 working days before the due date. Male employees can take 54 working days of paternity leave, including 18 working days during the mother’s maternity leave.

Finland does not have a national minimum wage. Wages are regulated by industry-specific collective agreements. Bonuses are common.

Employees in Finland receive two days of paid annual leave per month. This increases to two and a half days a month after a year of employment.

In Finland, the public holidays are:

• New Year's Day

• Epiphany

• Good Friday

• Easter Monday

• May Day

• Ascension Day

• Midsummer Eve

• Midsummer

• All Saints' Day

• Independence Day

• Christmas Eve

• Christmas Day

• Boxing Day

Finland has universal healthcare.

The termination notice period in Finland is 14 days for up to five years of service, a month up to four years, two months up to eight years, four months up to 12 years and six months beyond that. There is no statutory severance.