Further days of paid leave when children are sick

The child sick leave rules have been updated for many Pharmadanmark members working in pharmacies or the public sector.

The new collective agreements agreed this spring include extended child sick leave provisions. These changes help create a better balance between working life and family life.

“These are important steps in the right direction. The new rules give families with children more peace of mind when illness occurs, and they will clearly benefit many of our members,” says Stine Hasling Mogensen, Chair of Pharmadanmark.

The schemes have been expanded in both the public sector and the pharmacy sector, but in different ways to reflect the specific needs of each sector.

You can learn more about the new rules here.

Public sector: More consecutive paid days

In the public sector, the existing scheme has been significantly expanded.

Employees are now entitled not only to paid leave on the first and second day of their child’s illness, but also on the third day. In addition, they are entitled to “day 0” – the day you are called home from work because your child becomes ill during the day at school or daycare.

In practice, this means you can receive pay while caring for your sick child for up to nearly four working days.

These days are paid, which provides important financial security for parents in an otherwise challenging situation.

However, absence must still be compatible with workplace operations. In specific situations, an assessment may be made as to whether leave can be granted, depending on staffing and tasks. Fortunately, this is rarely a source of issues or conflicts, according to Pharmadanmark.

Pharmacy sector: Flexibility and better planning

In the pharmacy sector, the expansion is designed differently but offers its own clear benefits. The scheme has been extended from one to two days per illness period per minor child living at home.

At first glance, this may seem less extensive than in the public sector. However, the strength of the scheme lies in its flexibility. The two days are not tied to specific sick days, such as the first or third day. They do not need to be taken consecutively and can instead be used when the need is greatest during the illness period.

This flexibility makes it easier to manage everyday life in a sector where working hours often vary and shift schedules play a central role. It also makes it easier to coordinate with the other parent or grandparents.

There is also a clear right to stay home and care for your sick child, which strengthens the scheme further. It gives employees a predictable and secure option to prioritise their child’s needs without unnecessary uncertainty.

Two different solutions – same goal

Overall, the two expansions show how different sectors can adapt solutions to their specific working conditions. While the public sector has chosen a model with more consecutive days, the pharmacy sector prioritises flexibility and planning.

Both approaches help strengthen family life and create better conditions for employees with children – each in their own way.