A suspension period is a period set by the employment authority during which an unemployed jobseeker is not entitled to unemployment benefits. A suspension period is imposed if the jobseeker has acted in a manner that is reprehensible from the perspective of labour market policy. In legislation, the suspension period is referred to as an unpaid period.
The length of the suspension period depends on the reason for the suspension period. All days of the week (Monday to Sunday) are counted towards the suspension period. No earnings-related unemployment allowance can be paid for the duration of the suspension period, and the waiting period does not run. However, the term of periodisation runs concurrently with the suspension period.
Grounds for and duration of suspension periods
Resignation from work
- Resignation from work lasting more than 5 days or termination of employment for cause: 45-day suspension period
- Resignation from an employment relationship lasting no more than 5 days or termination of such an employment relationship for cause: 30-day suspension period
Example
Refusal of work
Refusal of work lasting more than two weeks for which you have been selected: 45-day suspension period
Graduated suspension periods based on non-compliances in the context of job-seeking and employment services
Non-compliance in the context of job-seeking and employment services can mean, for example, the following:
- Failure to attend an agreed initial interview or job search interview with the employment authority
- Refusal to have an employment plan drawn up
- Failure to follow an employment plan (e.g. refusing an employment promoting service, not applying for a sufficient number of jobs or not applying for a job that has been picked out for you).
Penalties before 1 March 2026:
1st time during the year: Warning (no loss of benefits)
2nd time during the year: 7-day suspension period
3rd time during the year: 14-day suspension period
4th time during the year: Obligation to work. Read more about the obligation to work below.
New law effective as of 1 March 2026:
The old four-tier system is being replacecd by a two-tier system:
1st time during the year: 7-day suspension period
2nd time during the year: Obligation to work. Read more about the obligation to work below.
Obligation to work
If you repeatedly commit actions that are considered reprehensible from the perspective of labour market policy, the employment authority will impose an obligation to work instead of a suspension period. In such a case, your entitlement to an earnings-related unemployment allowance will be reinstated once you have spent at least 12 calendar weeks (6 calendar weeks after 1 March 2026)
- in employment that counts towards satisfying the employment condition,
- in labour market training,
- in job search coaching or career coaching, in an employment or training experiment or in rehabilitative work activities,
- as a full-time student, or
- as a full-time entrepreneur or self-employed person.
Contact the employment authority before beginning any activities to establish whether those activities count towards satisfying the obligation to work.
After the suspension period, a labour policy statement indicating that there are no restrictions is required
Suspension periods are always set by the employment authority, and the decisions are binding on unemployment funds. Unemployment funds receive labour policy statements concerning suspension periods directly from the employment authority.
If you remain unemployed after the suspension period, your earnings-related unemployment allowance payments cannot begin without a labour policy statement indicating that there are no restrictions. If necessary, you can ask the employment authority to send a statement of no restrictions to KOKO.
Appeals against suspension periods
You do not necessarily have to apply for a daily allowance while subject to a suspension period. If you disagree with the decision imposing a suspension period and wish to challenge it, however, you need to apply for a daily allowance for the suspension period. Once you have received a negative decision on your daily allowance application from KOKO, you can appeal against it. Read more about the appeal process here: Appeals
A suspension period is not the same as a waiting period or a term of periodisation
People sometimes also use the word ‘suspension’ to refer to the 7-day waiting period or the term of periodisation, but officially these are different things. The waiting period is equivalent to seven working days, after which daily allowance payments can begin. The term of periodisation refers to a situation where the start of daily allowance payments is postponed due to the deferral of compensation related to the termination of employment. No more than 5 days per week, from Monday to Friday, are counted towards the waiting period and the term of periodisation.
You can find more detailed information about suspension periods on the Job Market Finland website.