Agreeing to take alternation leave

Advice on alternation leaves is available from both your unemployment fund and the TE Office. Your unemployment fund can help you with questions about your alternation allowance and applying for the allowance as well as premature termination of your alternation leave. We will also check whether your employment history qualifies you for an alternation leave. The TE Office can help you with questions relating to other eligibility criteria, the length of your alternation leave and the person covering for you during your leave. Steps to take before your alternation leave:

1. Make arrangements with your employer and sign an alternation leave agreement. If necessary, you can ask your unemployment fund to calculate your employment history before you sign the agreement.
2. Make sure to submit your alternation leave agreement to the TE Office well in advance of starting your alternation leave. The TE Office is responsible for checking some of the eligibility criteria for taking alternation leave.
3. The TE Office will give a statement about your eligibility to your unemployment fund electronically when your alternation leave is about to begin. Please make sure that the TE Office has all the information they need to give a statement.
4. Submit your alternation allowance application and supporting documents to your unemployment fund when you are about to start your alternation leave. You will find instructions for applying for an alternation allowance under Applying for an alternation allowance.

Extending your alternation leave

You can agree with your employer to extend your alternation leave. Such extensions must be agreed no later than two months before your original alternation leave is due to end. The total length of your alternation leave cannot exceed 180 calendar days, however. Remember to tell both the TE Office and your unemployment fund if you extend your alternation leave. We will need a statement about the extension from the TE Office.