Sickness absence - agreement in case of chronic or long-term sickness
Rules and procedure for the Danish Sickness Benefit Act 56
Published: 08.01.2018 (Last revised: 24.04.2023)
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Employees suffering from a long-term or chronic illness have the possibility, in cooperation with the place of employment, of applying for an agreement ensuring that the place of employment receives sickness benefit reimbursement from the first day of sickness. The agreement only covers absences due to the long-term/chronic illness, and it can be approved for up to two years at a time.
The agreement may be concluded in the following situations:
- When the staff member’s risk of illness is significantly increased due to a long-term or chronic illness, and the illness is estimated to result in at least 10 days of absence within 1 year.
- When the staff member is to be hospitalized, participate in temporary rehabilitation, receive treatment at a hospital or similar treatment facility.
- When the place of employment has already paid sickness benefit or pay for 21 calendar days for the same condition during the 12 months preceding the commencement of hospitalisation or treatment.
The municipality makes a final decision on whether a staff member and AAU can obtain a Section 56 agreement.
A staff member who has been granted a Section 56 agreement may also go home half days or just a few hours in a day, with the effect that the place of employment is eligible for reimbursement. It is a condition that there is a minimum of 4 hours of absence calculated in a week. The scheme cannot be used to permanently reduce working hours.
Procedure
Immediate superior and staff member must complete and sign this application form. The staff member submits the completed and signed application form to the municipality.
Follow this procedure for applying for Section 56 agreement. The procedure describes from the staff member requesting the agreement, to the completion of the application form to the municipality, the creation of a case in workzone, possibly the granting of section 56 in Statens HR depending on the municipality's decision – till the expiration of the license. A license is a prerequisite for registering Section 56 sickness absence in Statens HR.
If an application is made for a Section 56 agreement, it must be on the basis of mutual agreement between the staff member and his/her immediate superior in accordance with the rector's delegation instructions.