Work · notice period 2026
Notice period calculator 2026
The notice period depends on who ends the contract and how long the employment has lasted. If you resign, it is 14 days, or one month after more than five years. If the employer gives notice, it ranges from 14 days to six months by length of employment. The period starts running on the day after notice is given.
Example: the employment started on 1 February 2022 and notice is given on 15 October 2026. If you resign, your last working day is 29 October 2026. If the employer gives notice, the period is two months and the last day is 15 December 2026. The calculator also shows the earliest date a lay-off can start: since 1 June 2026 a lay-off must be announced at least seven days in advance.
Notice details
SituationEmployment startedYour first working day. The employment with the same employer must have run without a break.
The day the other party receives the notice. The notice period starts running on the next day.
Your employment contract or collective agreement may set a different period, up to six months. If unsure, keep the statutory one.
Choose the start of your employment and the notice date.
The calculator follows the notice periods in chapter 6, section 3 and the lay-off notice in chapter 5, section 4 of the Employment Contracts Act as amended by Act 412/2026. A collective agreement or your contract may say otherwise, so check your agreement first. The result is a date, not a legal assessment of the grounds for dismissal.
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How is the notice period calculated?
The notice period depends on who ends the contract and how long the employment has lasted without a break. If you resign, it is 14 days when the employment has lasted up to five years and one month when it has lasted longer. If the employer gives notice, it is 14 days for up to a year of employment, one month for over one and up to four years, two months for over four and up to eight years, four months for over eight and up to 12 years and six months for over 12 years. The period starts running on the day after notice is given. A period in days ends once the days have passed: with 14 days and notice on the 1st, the last working day is the 15th. A period in months ends on the same day of the month, or on the last day of a shorter month. Since 1 June 2026 a lay-off must be announced at least seven days before it begins: after a notice given on a Monday, the lay-off can start on the following Monday at the earliest.
Lay-offs, probation and agreed notice periods
A lay-off (lomautus) suspends work and pay while the contract stays in force. The notice is handed over in person at least seven days before the lay-off begins. If that is not possible it may be sent by letter or electronically, and it then counts as received on the seventh day after sending at the latest, so the lay-off can start 14 days after sending at the earliest. A collective agreement may still require a longer notice, often 14 days.
During a lay-off you may resign without a notice period, except in the seven days before a known end date of the lay-off. If the employer dismisses you during a lay-off, you are paid your notice-period wages, less seven days of pay if the lay-off was announced with more than seven days of notice. If a lay-off has lasted without a break for at least 200 days and you resign, the notice-period wages are paid as compensation.
During probation the contract may be cancelled at once without a notice period, as long as the reason is not discriminatory or unrelated to the purpose of probation. Probation lasts at most six months.
The statutory periods apply only where nothing else has been agreed. An employment contract or collective agreement may set a different period, up to six months. If the employer’s agreed period is shorter than the employee’s, the employee may follow the employer’s. If you know your agreed period, choose it in the calculator.
Statutory notice periods
| Employment has lasted | Employer gives notice | Employee resigns |
|---|---|---|
| up to 1 year | 14 days | 14 days |
| over 1, up to 4 years | 1 month | 14 days |
| over 4, up to 5 years | 2 months | 14 days |
| over 5, up to 8 years | 2 months | 1 month |
| over 8, up to 12 years | 4 months | 1 month |
| over 12 years | 6 months | 1 month |
The calculator moves to the next step on the anniversary of the start date, when the employment has lasted more than a full year.
What changed in 2026
| In force | Change | Section |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | A proper reason is enough for dismissal on personal grounds; it no longer has to be proper and weighty | ch. 7, s. 2 |
| 1 Jun 2026 | Lay-off notice cut from 14 to 7 days | ch. 5, s. 4 |
| 1 Jun 2026 | Seven days of pay, previously 14, may be deducted from notice-period wages during a lay-off | ch. 5, s. 7 |
| 1 Jun 2026 | Fixed-term contract without a stated reason, for up to a year | ch. 1, s. 3 |
| 1 Jun 2026 | Re-employment duty only for employers with at least 50 employees | ch. 6, s. 6 |
| no change | Notice periods | ch. 6, s. 3 |
Frequently asked questions
How long is the notice period if I resign?
14 days if the employment has lasted up to five years, and one month if longer. Your employment contract or collective agreement may set a different period, up to six months. If the employer's agreed notice is shorter than yours, you may follow the employer's.
When does the notice period start?
On the day after the notice is given. If you resign on 1 June with a 14-day notice period, your last working day is 15 June. A period in months ends on the same day of the month: two months from 15 October ends on 15 December.
How much notice does a lay-off need in 2026?
Since 1 June 2026, at least seven days before the lay-off begins; previously it was 14 days. A collective agreement may still require longer, often 14 days. The employer and the shop steward or another staff representative can then agree on seven days in writing.
Do I have to work during my notice period?
Yes, unless the employer releases you from work. The notice period is ordinary working time with normal pay. If the employer releases you from work, you are still paid in full for the whole notice period. Unused vacation days are paid as holiday compensation with your final pay.
What happens if the notice period is not observed?
An employer who dismisses without observing the notice period must pay full wages for the period. An employee who leaves without observing it must pay the employer a lump sum equal to the notice-period wages. If the period is only partly ignored, the compensation covers only that part.
Can I leave at once during probation?
Yes. During probation either party may cancel the contract without a notice period, as long as the reason is not discriminatory or unrelated to the purpose of probation. Probation lasts at most six months.
What changed in Finnish employment law in 2026?
Since 1 January 2026 a proper reason (asiallinen syy) is enough for a dismissal on personal grounds. Since 1 June 2026 lay-off notice is seven days, a fixed-term contract can be made without a stated reason for up to a year if the parties have had no employment relationship in the previous five years, and the duty to re-employ dismissed staff applies only to employers with at least 50 employees. Notice periods did not change.