Are sick leave rules different across Europe

Yes, sick leave pay and coverage periods vary between countries.

Which countries have the longest paid sick leave period?

Norway covers up to 52 weeks; additionally, the Netherlands extends coverage up to 2 years.

Are sick leave payments covered by employers or the European state?

It depends: in countries like Germany and Spain, both contribute -employers initially, then social security covers..

How can International companies manage such costs efficiently?

By partnering with an Employer of Record (EOR) such as EuroDev, which handles payroll and ensures compliance with each country’s regulations.

Which countries have the highest sick leave costs for employers?

Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, due to the long coverage periods and high salary compensation rates.

What Are the 2026 Sick Leave Rules in Europe?

Created at: 31 August 2022 - Last updated: 25 June 2026

sick-leave-rules-in-europe

Sick leave policies across Europe vary more than most companies expect. Some countries pay employees in full from their first day of sickness, while in other countries there are waiting days and lower compensation levels.

For companies looking to employ in Europe it is crucial to understand who pays, how much they pay, and when they pay. Not staying compliant can put companies at risk of facing unexpected costs and compliance issues.

How Much Do Employees Get Paid if They Are Sick in Europe?

In every European country, there are different coverage amounts and rules. These amounts are not necessarily fully covered by the employers; in some countries, the state also covers a portion of it.

First Month Sick-Leave Compensation 2025

Full Coverage	High Partial Coverage		Low Partial Coverage
Germany	Sweden	80% reduced by statutory sick-leave deductiuon	Portugal	~49.5%
Norway	Poland	80%	France	~45%
Austria	Denmark	Depends on employee	Finland	Variable
Belgium	The Netherlands	70% minimum	The United Kingdom	Variable; capped at £123.25/ week
	Spain	63.75%
	Italy	50.6%
	Switzerland	Variable; statutory full pay for limited period or commonly 80% through insurance

Table 1. The percentage of salaries employees get during the first month of sick leave in 15 European countries (2026 data).

In this table are presented three different categories:

Full Sick-Leave Coverage: shows the European countries where employees are fully compensated for their salaries during the first month of sick leave.

Germany - employees are entitled to continued remuneration for up to six weeks after four weeks of uninterrupted employment.
Austria - employees are entitled to continued remuneration for at least six weeks, increasing with length of service.
Norway - employees receive 100% of the sickness benefit base, subject to the statutory cap, with the employer paying the first 16 days and NAV paying from day 17.

High Partial Sick-Leave Coverage: shows the European countries where employees are compensated more than 50% of their salaries during the first month of sick leave.

Sweden - sick pay is 80% of salary and benefits, reduced by a one-off sick-leave deduction.

Poland - ordinary sick pay is 80% of the assessment basis.
The Netherlands 0 employers must pay at least 70% of wages for up to two years of sickness.
Denmark - sick-pay coverage depends on contract, employee category, and whether wages or sickness benefits apply.
Switzerland - coverage depends on length of service and whether daily sickness allowance insurance applies; common insurance arrangements provide at least 80% of salary.
Spain - statutory temporary disability benefit is 60% of the regulatory base from day 4 to day 20, and 75% from day 21, giving roughly 59% over the first 30 days.
Italy - INPS pays 50% from day 4 to day 20 and 66.66% from day 21 to day 180, giving roughly 50.6% over the first 30 days under the statutory INPS-only calculation.

Low Partial Sick-Leave Coverage: shows the European countries where employees are compensated less than half their salaries during the first month of sick leave.

Portugal - sickness benefit generally starts from the fourth day and is 55% of reference earnings for absences up to 30 days, giving roughly 49.5% over the first month.
France - daily sickness allowances are paid after a three-day waiting period and equal 50% of the basic daily wage, subject to the 2026 cap; this gives roughly 45% over 30 days before employer top-ups.
The United Kingdom - from 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is payable from the first full day of sickness and is the lower of 80% of average weekly earnings or £123.25 per week, so it cannot be shown as one fixed salary percentage.
Finland - employees receive wages from the employer during the first ten days, after which Kela sickness allowance may apply; the amount depends on annual income, so it should not be presented as one fixed percentage.

What Is Employer Sick Leave Coverage in Europe?

Regardless of the amounts employers receive if they are sick, employers do not necessarily cover the full amount. These criteria differ per country.

Employer Sick Leave Coverage Percentage in Europe

European Country	Average Monthly Salary (€)	Sick Pay Rules	Estimated Sick Leave Compensation (€)
United Kingdom	4,305 €	Lower of 80% of average weekly earnings or £123.25/week; converted at £1 = €1.1557	€617/month
France	3,649 €	50% of basic daily wage, capped at €42.97/day, after 3 unpaid waiting days; employer top-up may apply depending on eligibility	€1,160/month
Germany	4,483 €	100% salary for up to 6 weeks after 4 weeks of employment	€4,483/month
Spain	2,808 €	Days 1–3: 0%; days 4–20: 60%; day 21 onward: 75%	€1,657/month
The Netherlands	4,854 €	Minimum 70% salary for up to 2 years; CAO/contract may increase it	€3,398/month
Italy	2,794 €	Approx. statutory/INPS base: first 3 days often CBA-dependent; days 4–20 around 50%; day 21 onward around 66.67%; CCNLs often top up	€1,412/month
Poland	1,771 €	80% salary for standard sickness; 100% for pregnancy/commuting accident/donor cases	€1,416/month
Portugal	2,068 €	First 3 days unpaid; days 4–30 at 55% of reference earnings	€1,024/month
Switzerland	6,255 €	If no sickness insurance: 100% salary for a limited period; if daily sickness insurance applies: usually at least 80% salary	€6,255/month or €5,004/month at 80% insurance
Austria	4,883 €	Continued remuneration; generally 100% salary during the initial statutory sickness period	€4,883/month
Belgium	4,969 €	First 30 days generally employer-paid; white-collar employees usually 100% salary, blue-collar rules differ	€4,969/month for white-collar employees
Norway	5,336 €	100% sickness benefit base, capped at 6G; employer pays first 16 calendar days, then National Insurance	€5,336/month if below cap
Denmark	5,964 €	Full salary may apply under Salaried Employees Act, contract or CBA; otherwise sickness benefits apply	€5,964/month if full salary applies; otherwise dependent
Finland	4,119 €	Employer pays wages during first 10 days; after that Kela sickness allowance applies and is income-dependent	€1,373 + Kela-dependent amount
Sweden	3,877 €	Employer pays days 1–14 at around 80%, minus waiting deduction equal to 20% of sick pay for an average week; after day 14 state benefit may apply	€1,303 + state benefit from day 15

Table 2. The percentage of salary employers must cover during an entire month of sick leave in 15 European countries. The average sick leave compensation varies by country and is directly influenced by average salary.

Note: The percentages in Table 2 are calculated based on the first month of sickness. Therefore, criteria— such as unpaid waiting days, different duration rules, and social security support —are taken into account when calculating the final percentage.

For more information on the cost of hiring an employee in France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany, check blogs:

What Are the Sick Leave Rules Across Europe?

Following the previous two tables, there are certain rules employers must adhere to in each of these 15 European countries.

Sick Leave Rules in Europe

European Country	Waiting Period Before Sick Pay (Days)	Sick Leave Rules
The United Kingdom	0	Statutory Sick Pay is payable from the first full day of sickness (from April 2026) at the lower of 80% of average weekly earnings or £123.25/week.
France	3	Social security pays 50% of the basic daily wage (capped) after a 3-day waiting period; employer top-ups may apply.
Germany	None	Employers cover 100% salary for up to 6 weeks, after which statutory health insurance pays sickness benefit.
Spain	3	Days 1–3 unpaid; days 4–20 paid at 60%; from day 21 at 75% through social security. [seg-social.es]
The Netherlands	None	Employers must pay at least 70% of salary for up to 2 years and support employee reintegration.
Italy	None	First 3 days, employers cover 100%, day 4 till day 20, 50%, day 20 till six months, 34%.
Poland	None	Employer pays 80% for the first 33 days (14 days if over 50); 100% applies in specific cases (e.g. pregnancy or accidents)
Portugal	3	From day 4 to day 30, the employer covers 55%, from day 31 to day 90, 60%, from day 91 to day 365, 70%, and after 365 days, 75%.
Switzerland	None	Employers must pay the full amount of sick leave for at least three weeks.
Austria	None	Employees are entitled to a minimum of six weeks of sick leave every year.
Belgium	Varies	Employers generally pay full salary for the first 30 days for white-collar employees; afterwards, benefits are paid by health insurance.
Norway	None	Employer pays full salary for the first 16 days; thereafter, National Insurance covers sickness benefits at 100% (subject to cap).
Denmark	None	Employers cover sick leave for the initial 30 days.
Finland	1-9	Employer pays wages for the first 10 days; after a waiting period (typically first day + 9 days), Kela pays income-based sickness allowance.
Sweden	1	Day 1 unpaid (deduction applied); days 2–14 paid by employer at ~80%; from day 15, state benefits apply.

Table 3. The waiting period before sick leave and each of these 15 European countries' sick leave main rules are presented (2025 data).

Note: In some countries, like Germany, there are no unpaid waiting days, yet employees may still need to provide a doctor's note.

Conclusion & How we can help

Managing sick leave in different European countries can be tedious, particularly when handling local rules and payment responsibilities. Understanding every country's HR regulations is important for companies expanding their business operations in Europe.

If you are planning to hire employees in Europe but want to avoid such complexities, EuroDev continuously welcomes new partnerships. We offer EOR (Employer of Record) and Payroll services to help you hire and pay employees across multiple European countries without setting up a local entity.

Contact us, and we will schedule an appointment to help you understand exactly how we can help as your partner here in Europe.

Written by Sven Brands, HR Outsourcing International Account Manager at EuroDev.

Disclaimer: While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, please note that HR policies and regulations can change frequently. It is recommended that you seek guidance from our HR consultants to ensure that the data presented here is current and accurate.

FAQ's

: Yes, sick leave pay and coverage periods vary between countries.
: Norway covers up to 52 weeks; additionally, the Netherlands extends coverage up to 2 years.
: It depends: in countries like Germany and Spain, both contribute -employers initially, then social security covers..
: By partnering with an Employer of Record (EOR) such as EuroDev, which handles payroll and ensures compliance with each country’s regulations.
: Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, due to the long coverage periods and high salary compensation rates.

Source: Vouchercloud