Vuorottelusta

Vuorottelusta is a Finnish term referring to the legal and practical framework surrounding vuorotteluvapaa, a long-term leave from work that allows an employee to work temporarily for another employer, pursue training, or attend to caregiving duties while keeping the right to return to their original job. The purpose of the arrangement is to improve work-life balance, support retraining and career transitions, and enable flexible arrangements for family and caregiving responsibilities. The system is established by national legislation and implemented through agreements between employees, employers, and the relevant social security or unemployment authorities.

Eligibility and use of vuorottelusta require meeting specific conditions defined in the applicable act. Typically, an employee must have a qualifying period of employment and be part of a position covered by the scheme. The leave is taken for a defined period, and the employee is entitled to return to the original position at the end of the period, with rights and seniority preserved according to the agreement and applicable laws. The purpose of the leave is to allow the employee to work for another employer or to engage in training or other activities that may enhance employability, while the original job is reserved for them during the leave.

Compensation during vuorottelusta is provided as a daily allowance to partly replace lost earnings, funded through the unemployment security system and related social security arrangements. Applications for vuorottelusta are typically initiated by the employee in cooperation with the employer and the appropriate national authorities. Public discussion often highlights the balance between administrative complexity and the flexibility the arrangement offers for work-life balance and lifelong learning.