All about replacement holiday

If you are unlucky and have to take to your bed during your holiday, you have the option to have your holiday replaced in accordance to the Danish Holiday Act.

The rules are in brief:

• You can receive replacement holiday after 5 sickness days
• You must give your employer notice of sickness on your first day of sickness
• You must pay for a medical report to document your sickness.

Five days of waiting period

The first 5 days of sickness during your holiday are considered a waiting period. The waiting period need not be 5 consecutive days. If, for instance, you are ill on days 2, 3, 4 and 5 of your summer holidays, and then get ill again on days 10 and 11, you can receive replacement holiday from the sixth day of sickness and onwards. This also applies if you become ill in your autumn holiday or winter holiday.

Remember to notify your employer

The entitlement to replacement holiday does not start until you have notified your employer that you are ill. Therefore, it is important to let your employer know as soon as you fall ill. You should also remember to contact a doctor as soon as you fall ill, so that you can have a medical report made. You must pay for the medical report yourself.
If you have earned entitlement to less than 25 days of holiday, the waiting period is adjusted proportionately.

Remember also to report fit to return to work

If you get well before the expiry of your planned holiday, you must remember to let your employer know that you are well again and ready to return to work. You also need to let your employer know if you want to take the remaining holiday or you want to resume work.
You can only choose to take the remainder of your planned holiday, because you are not entitled to take the postponed holiday immediately after letting the employer know that you are ready to return to work after your illness, unless your employer agrees.