Higher-risk Employees Entitled To Sickness Benefit Under New Danish Rules

The Danish Parliament recently adopted a bill to amend the Sickness Benefits Act allowing employees who are at higher risk in the event of infection with Covid-19 and employees with a relative in the higher risk group to receive sickness benefits. The bill allows also employers paying salary during their absence to be reimbursed from the first day of absence.

The Danish Parliament recently enacted the bill to amend the Sickness Benefits Act. The scheme covers absence in the period from 20 May 2020, which was the effective date of the bill, until 31 August 2020. The new rules will automatically be repealed on 1 January 2021.

The main elements of the measure introduced under the bill are as follows: