Adverse weather: Your rights as an employee in Denmark

What do I do if a snowstorm or heavy rainfall prevents me from going to work?

Even if it's snowing heavily and you can't get to work because your car is stuck in the snowdrifts, the bike lanes are impassable or the train has been cancelled, you are obliged to try to get to work anyway.

If the police have directly advised against driving, or you feel that it is simply not safe to come to work, you must contact your manager as soon as possible and inform them that you will be prevented from travelling due to the weather.

Your employer cannot fire you for not showing up. However, your employer has the right to deduct your salary for your absence. But in many cases the situation can be resolved by you taking a day off (time off in lieu or holiday) instead of being deducted.

If you are able to work from home, you are of course entitled to your usual salary. You must ensure that you bring your own work tools, such as a PC or other equipment, with you. If your PC is in the office and you cannot work from home, you must agree with your manager that you take a day off (time off in lieu or holiday) or have your salary deducted.

If your employer chooses to close the business due to the weather, you are entitled to your usual pay.

Read more about working from home and your rights

Can I stay at home and drain the basement if my house gets flooded?

It is your responsibility if your home is affected by weather conditions such as storm damage, water in the basement or similar.

You must call or write to your manager as soon as possible to inform them of the situation and agree that you take a day off (time off in lieu or holiday) or, if necessary, be deducted from your salary for a day off if you have no more days off left.

If your manager is not willing to make an agreement that you can take time off, it will depend on a concrete assessment of the situation whether you can be terminated if you stay at home against your manager's wishes. In such a situation, you can contact us at IDA for further advice: Log in to write to IDA

What are my rights if my workplace is so hot or cold that it affects my health?

According to the Working Environment Act, the employer is obliged to ensure a safe and healthy physical and psychosocial working environment.

If your place of work is excessively hot or cold, and to an extent that is makes you ill to stay there, you need to report sick. As a salaried employee, you are entitled to full pay during illness.

If you are able to work remotely and the temperature conditions are better at your home workplace, you can choose to work from home instead.

Learn more about regulations on workplace temperature

Can I stay at home if schools and daycare centres are closed due to bad weather? And am I entitled to pay during my day of leave if it is caused by bad weather?

It is your responsibility to look after your children if their daycare centres and schools are closed due to the weather. If you have no other childcare options, you should contact your manager as soon as possible and agree on how to resolve the situation.

You can try to agree with your manager that you can bring the child/children to work or that you can work from home to the extent possible.

If it is not possible to work while you are responsible for the children, you must agree with your manager that you take a day off (care day, time off in lieu or holiday day) or, if necessary, take an unpaid day off if you have used all the days of paid leave you are entitled to.

If your manager is not willing to make an agreement that you can bring children to the workplace, work from home or take time off, it will depend on a concrete assessment of the situation whether you can be terminated if you stay at home against your manager's wishes. In such a situation, you can contact us at IDA for further advice: Log in to write to IDA