Is Christmas Eve a paid holiday?
Christmas Eve is an important holiday for many Finns, but its status as a paid day off is not clear-cut. In this article, we examine whether Christmas Eve is a paid holiday in Finland and what factors affect this.
Labor legislation and collective agreements
In Finland, labor legislation does not define Christmas Eve as an official holiday, so it is not automatically a paid day off. However, in many fields and workplaces, Christmas Eve is a day off based on collective agreements or employer practices.
Importance of collective agreements
Many collective agreements contain provisions for the Christmas Eve day off. For example, in the public sector and many industries, Christmas Eve is often a paid day off. Collective agreements can vary greatly between different sectors, so it is important to check the agreement in your own sector.
Employer policies
If the collective agreement does not define Christmas Eve as a day off, the employer can still decide to give the employees the day off. This may be part of company practices or a benefit offered by the employer. In some companies, employees can get a shortened working day on Christmas Eve.
Situation of the private sector
In the private sector, practices can vary greatly. In some industries, such as retail and the restaurant industry, Christmas Eve can be a busy working day when employees do not get time off. On the other hand, in many office workplaces, Christmas Eve can be a paid day off or a shortened working day.
Summary
Christmas Eve is not automatically a paid day off in Finland, but in many fields and workplaces it can be based on collective agreements or employer practices. It is important to check the collective agreement in your field and talk to your employer about the day off on Christmas Eve.
You can find more information on the subject from the following sources:
