Working

Sick leave, paid, protected, but know the rules

Updated July 2026Reviewed July 2026
The one-line versionSalaried employees (funktionaer) get full pay while sick. Others may get sygedagpenge. Just notify your employer on day one - but watch the 120-day rule if it is in your contract.

If you are a funktionaer (salaried employee), the Salaried Employees Act gives you your full normal salary while off sick - your employer cannot dock your pay for sick days. You simply notify them as early as possible on your first sick day. Other workers may instead receive sygedagpenge (sickness benefit), depending on their agreement.

What you must do

  • Notify early - tell your employer on day one, by the method your workplace expects.
  • Follow up - longer absences may need a doctor's note (mulighedserklaering or friattest); submit promptly.
  • Keep records - dates and any medical documentation, especially for extended illness.
The 120-day ruleYour contract may contain the '120-day rule': if you are ill for 120 days within 12 consecutive months, the employer can terminate with one month's notice. It is only valid if written into your contract, and the notice must be given immediately after the 120th day while you are still ill. Check whether your contract includes it.

Sygedagpenge for others

If you are not a funktionaer, or when employer-paid sickness ends, sickness benefit (sygedagpenge) may apply, administered via your municipality. The weekly maximum is similar to the parental-leave ceiling (around DKK 4,650-4,695/week in 2026). Eligibility depends on your work history and attachment to the labour market.

Your union handles disputesIf an employer wrongly docks sick pay or mishandles the 120-day rule, your union will step in with legal support - one of the concrete reasons membership pays off. See unions and fagforening.

Common questions

Do I get full pay when sick?
As a funktionaer, yes - full salary, with no deduction for sick days. Other workers may receive sygedagpenge depending on their agreement.
Do I need a doctor's note for one sick day?
Usually not for a short absence - a same-day notification is enough. Longer or repeated absences may require documentation.
What is the 120-day rule?
A contract clause allowing termination on one month's notice after 120 sick days in 12 months. It only applies if explicitly in your contract.

Verified July 2026 against official sources: borger.dk, the Barsel Act (Barselsloven), the Salaried Employees Act (Funktionaerloven), virk.dk and skat.dk. Figures are 2026 levels and reset each January. General information, not legal advice - see our editorial policy.

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