Temporary relaxation of working conditions

Working during long-term sick leave

If the first certificate for sick leave has been issued on 15 May 2024 or later, you can return to work from the 61st day of sick leave under adapted conditions.

This means that you can return to work upon agreement with your doctor and employer. Your job will be adapted to suit you. For example, you can work part-time or do less burdensome tasks. Your employer and the Health Insurance Fund will jointly ensure that your income stays the same.

How does this benefit the employee?

• You can avoid permanent incapacity for work.
• You can recover more quickly if you interact with people and feel useful.
• You will not lose money. Thanks to the compensation paid by the Health Insurance Fund, your salary will remain the same as it was before you became ill.

What can working under adapted conditions mean for you?

• lighter tasks and/or
• a smaller workload or fewer working hours.

What do you have to do to get back to work?

• If your health allows, after the 30th day of sick leave, tell your doctor that you want to return to work under adapted conditions.
• Ask your employer if they agree to you taking up your job under the conditions set by the doctor. The conditions are listed on your certificate for sick leave.
• Do it all in good time. This gives your employer time to adapt the job to suit you. Your doctor can give you the appropriate certificate for sick leave up to 30 days before your expected return to work. The temporary adaptation of working conditions lasts at least 30 days.

Please remember! 

• Working under adapted conditions is voluntary. You can do it, but you do not have to. Your doctor and employer must also agree to your return to work.
• We recommend that you agree in writing with your employer on the start date, conditions, and salary of the adapted work. The salary must be commensurate with your workload. For example, if you work with an 80% workload, your salary must be 80% of your pay for the calendar month before you became ill. The difference is paid by the Health Insurance Fund.
• In any case, your employer must pay you 50% of your salary in the calendar month before you fell ill, even if you work less than that.
• If the salary remains the same, the Health Insurance Fund will not pay any compensation.
• The Health Insurance Fund will reimburse the difference in your salary up to a maximum of 122 days.
• Get back to work, but take care of your health and stick to your doctor’s advice!

If necessary, the Estonian Unemployment Fund will also provide you with labour market services to support your work capacity, such as vocational rehabilitation, experience counselling, and work aids. 

Important!

You can work under adapted conditions if you:

• have an employment contract;
• are a public servant;
• take part in the activities of your spouse who is a self-employed person.

You cannot work under adapted conditions if you:

• have an authorisation agreement or a contract for services;
• are a self-employed person;
• are the holder of a business account; or
• are a member of the management board of the company.

When working under adapted conditions, you can:

• go on holiday;
• open a certificate for care leave;
• open a certificate for sick leave if you fall ill with another illness.

If you work under adapted conditions, your doctor must assess your health at least every 30 days. If necessary, they will:

• issue another certificate for sick leave;
• change the restrictions on work; or
• terminate the certificate for sick leave for working under adapted conditions and issue a certificate for sick leave to be released from work.