Military service and non-military service

You have the right to obtain leave from work due to mandatory military service or non-military service.

You must provide the employer with a document on starting your mandatory military or non-military service no later than two months before the service begins or as soon as you have been informed of the start of the service. The document must include information on being enrolled for the service and when the service begins. For example, you can take a copy of the document stating that you have been enrolled for military or non-military service and give it to your employer. The document must be provided to ensure that your employer has enough time to organise your work during your absence.

Your employer cannot terminate your employment due to the military or non-military service. The employment of employees enrolled to military or non-military service can only be terminated if the employer’s company shuts down its operations completely.

When your military or non-military service ends or if you discontinue your service, you must inform your employer no later than 14 days before that you are returning to work. You have the right to return to the same duties as before. If this is not possible, the employer must provide you with work that corresponds to your previous work to the extent possible. If this is not possible, you must be offered other work in accordance with your employment contract.

The employer does not have to allow you to work before 14 days have passed since you gave the employer your notification on returning to work. The employer and employee can agree differently on this together. You should notify your intent to return to work already during your military or non-military service if you want to start work immediately after your service ends.