Illness/Sickness

Right to sick leave is different between the public labour market (employees of the government, municipals or their intuitions) and the general labour market. This also differs when child sickness is involved.

  • Mynd: Brynja Hrafnkelsdóttir

Here you will find information about the sickness rights of members who work in the public sector and the private sector, as well as information about the rights of the members to absence from work due to the illness of children under the age of 13.





Illness/Sickness right

In general, an employee shall not lose any of hers/his salaries if absence is due to illness/sickness or accident, this included both physical and mental illnesses which inhibits the employee to do hers/his job. The right is either stated in laws or applicable Collective Agreements but after the right to sick leave is exhausted a member could have right to payments from the Sick fund (Sjúkrasjóður BHM) or from Social Security.

Illness/Sickness right for Public labour market (City and Municipals)

Member who is hired on regular monthly salaries for at least two months shall retain hers/his regular salaries as long as sick days, counted in calendar days, will not exceed the following on every 12-month period:

Employment Sick days
0-3 months  14
After 3 months  35
After 6 months  119
After 1 year  133
After 7 years  175
After 12 years  273
After 18 years  360

Member who is employed by the hour or is hired for less than two months shall retain hers/his regular salaries as long as sick days, counted in calendar days, will not exceed the following on every 12-month period: 

Employment Sick days 
 In the first month 2 days
 In the second month 4 days
 In the third month 6 days
 After three months 14 days
 After six months 30 days

If absence is due to occupational accidents or disease the right to sick leave is extended by 13 weeks (91 days). Employment is calculated as combined length of service for the government, municipals or their institution. 

Illness/Sickness of a child

Right to absence due to child (under 13 years old) illness/sickness is up to 12 days (96 hours) on every calendar year. This also applies to child under 16 years of age when serious illness/sickness lead to hospitalization for at least 1 day.

Sick leave right on Privat labour market

Minimum legal sick leave is:

Two days for every month of employment. One month after one year of employment. One month on full salaries and one month on base salaries after three years of employment. One month on full salaries and two months on base salaries after five years of employment

Sick leave according to the Collective Agreement between SA and FÍN is broader than stated by law. Member shall retain hers/his fixed salaries for as long as sick days will not exceed the following on every 12 months period.

Employment Sick days
In the first year  2 days for every month of employment
After 1 year  2 months
After 5 years  4 months
After 10 years  6 months

Member who has gained the right to sick leave for 4-6 months according to the applicable Collective Agreement and then switches employment shall not lose any of their regular salaries for two months.

Illness/Sickness of a child

Right to absence due to child (under 13 years old) illness/sickness is up to two days for every month of employment for the first six months. After six months of employment the right is 12 days (96 hours) on every 12 months period.

Additional detail

Right to Illness/sickness leave according to collective agreement and law (not all has been translated to Icelandic)

Sickness and Private/Public sector relief fund of BHM