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Holiday bonus

What is a holiday bonus?

You are not entitled to the bonus without a separate agreement. The payment of the bonus is based either on a collective agreement, the employment contract or a practice followed at the workplace. The bonus is paid either in connection with annual holiday pay before the start of the holiday or after the holiday, depending on what is agreed.

Exchanging the bonus for time off

Not all collective agreements include the possibility to exchange the bonus for time off. However, if this is possible under the collective agreement, the exchange of the bonus for time off must be agreed with the employer. In other words, the employee cannot decide the matter on their own.

The bonus is 50% of the amount of holiday pay

Usually, receiving the bonus requires returning to work after the holiday, and the bonus is often paid in two instalments before and after the holiday.

Please note that annual holiday pay is required by law, whereas the bonus is agreed locally or in the collective agreement. 

Is my employer required to pay me the bonus?

The Annual Holidays Act does not contain provisions on the payment of the bonus. The payment of the bonus may be based on a collective agreement or an established practice at the workplace. The conditions for the payment of the bonus must be checked from the applicable collective agreement or from the employer.

If the sector does not have a universally binding collective agreement and the payment of the bonus is not established, the employer is not required to pay the bonus.