Sick pay in Denmark (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: In Denmark the employer pays sickness benefit for the first 30 calendar days from the first day of absence, if the employment condition is met; after that the municipality pays. There is no waiting day. The employer may require written proof from the second day of absence.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Who pays sick payBeing ill and unable to work | The employer pays sickness benefit (sygedagpenge) for the first 30 calendar days from the first day of absence to an employee who does not get full pay in sickness and who has been employed for the last 8 weeks and worked at least 74 hours in that time. After the employer period the municipality pays. [1] |
| Sick pay rateBeing ill and unable to work | Calculated from the employee's average hourly earnings over the last three completed months (after labour-market contribution) times the weekly hours. The weekly amount is capped (s. 50) and the cap is adjusted every January (s. 64). If the employer pays more than the benefit, the benefit from the employer lapses. [1] |
| Maximum durationBeing ill and unable to work | Employer: 30 calendar days. Municipal sickness benefit stops at the end of a month in which more than 22 weeks of benefit or sick pay were paid in the 9 preceding calendar months, unless an extension rule applies (employer-period days do not count). [1] |
| Waiting daysBeing ill and unable to work | None. The right to sickness benefit from the employer runs from the first day of absence. [1] |
| Medical certificateBeing ill and unable to work | The employee must report sick as soon as possible and no later than two hours after the start of working time unless another time is set. The employer may require written notice or other proof of sickness within a reasonable time, at the earliest on the second day of absence (Sundays and holidays not counted). For short, repeated or long absence the employer may also require a doctor's declaration (mulighedserklæring). [1] |
Notes
- Whether an employee gets full pay in sickness from the employer depends on the contract or collective agreement; the Act then applies only to employees who do not get full pay.
Sources
- Retsinformation (Civilstyrelsen): Bekendtgørelse af lov om sygedagpenge (LBK nr 1221 af 09/10/2025) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.