Agreeing to take alternation leave

Advice on alternation leaves is available from both your unemployment fund and the TE Office. Your unemployment fund can help you with questions about your alternation allowance and applying for the allowance as well as premature termination of your alternation leave. We will also check whether your employment history qualifies you for an alternation leave. The TE Office can help you with questions relating to other eligibility criteria, the length of your alternation leave and the person covering for you during your leave.

Steps to take before your alternation leave:

1. Make arrangements with your employer and sign an alternation leave agreement. If necessary, you can ask your unemployment fund to calculate your employment history before you sign the agreement.
2. Make sure to submit your alternation leave agreement to the TE Office well in advance of starting your alternation leave. The TE Office is responsible for checking some of the eligibility criteria for taking alternation leave.
3. The TE Office will give a statement about your eligibility to your unemployment fund electronically when your alternation leave is about to begin. Please make sure that the TE Office has all the information they need to give a statement.
4. Submit your alternation allowance application and supporting documents to your unemployment fund when you are about to start your alternation leave. You will find instructions for applying for an alternation allowance under Applying for an alternation allowance.

The alternation leave system was abolished

The job alternation leave system was abolished on August 1, 2024. The change will not affect ongoing job alternation leaves.

Job alternation leave can be taken under current conditions if the leave begins no later than July 31, 2024. Individuals who have commenced their leave before this date will have the right to take job alternation leave for a maximum of 180 calendar days.

Job alternation leave will be considered commenced by July 31, 2024, if the alternation leave agreement has been submitted to the TE Office no later than July 31, 2024, and the substitute’s employment contract begins no later than July 31, 2024. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the substitute’s employment contract has been submitted to the TE Office by 31 July 2024 at the latest.

Extending your alternation leave

You can agree with your employer to extend your alternation leave. Such extensions must be agreed no later than two months before your original alternation leave is due to end. The total length of your alternation leave cannot exceed 180 calendar days, however.

Remember to tell both the TE Office and your unemployment fund if you extend your alternation leave. We will need a statement about the extension from the TE Office.