1

Can an employer prohibit a parent from participating in an important event related to their child?

YesA
NoB
No. The employer must enable a reasonable amount of paid free time for personal matters. This includes being absent from work due to family reasons, sickness, or an accident if it is not possible to deal with these events during after-work hours.

Does an employee need to know who they should talk to if they have to unexpectedly leave work?

YesA
NoB
Yes. It is both in the interest of the employer and employee to have clear and agreed rules in the organisation about how to exercise the right to leave work due to unexpected circumstances.

Is the employer obliged to encourage work-life balance?

YesA
NoB
Yes. The employer is obliged to encourage a work-life balance specific to the needs of an employee. The solutions offered by the employer may be different for each employee, considering the needs of the employee.

Is it necessary to accept phone calls from a manager after working hours?

YesA
NoB
No. The employee is obliged to perform work duties during working time. The employee does not have to be contactable and perform working tasks after working hours.

Is unpaid work at home also considered work?

YesA
NoB
Yes. Although housework and taking care of other family members are unpaid, it is also considered work. A parent burdened with work at home may be helped by rearranging work at the office, for example, by allowing flexible working hours, part-time work, or remote work. Another factor that might help balance work and family life may be allocating free time to an employee for urgent family matters or to attend to the demands of personal life.

If someone in the family needs daily assistance, does it have to be offered by a working family member?

YesA
NoB
No. If a person needs daily assistance, the local municipality where that person resides is obliged to assist.

Is it appropriate to ask about (having) children during a job interview?

YesA
NoB
No. The employer is not allowed to ask questions concerning pregnancy, childbirth, being a parent, and fulfilling family obligations. During a pre-contract interview or other preparations to sign an employment agreement, it is not allowed to demand information that concern the private life of the applicant or that is not connected with the applicant’s suitability for the position. Questions about civil status, children, and family obligations are inappropriate.

Can an employee make suggestions about the better organisation of working life?

YesA
NoB
Yes. It pays off to have a constructive discussion about the needs and problems of work-life balance with the employer. An employee should pay attention to the needs of an employee and their desire to balance work and family life. The work has to be done, of course, but it is worth considering whether working from home would help. Assistance is also available from a local municipality or school.

Should grandparents give up work and start babysitting?

YesA
NoB
No, but they can be of great help. For example, when a child is sick, a doctor may also issue a certificate of care for leave for a grandparent, which allows them to be absent from work while keeping most of their pay. For example, pages 18–20 of the “Who’s old – not me?!” leaflet lists the possibilities for grandparents to help the family. Ask for this leaflet in your nearest library or view it on the webpage: volinik.ee/vanus/lae-alla-raamat-ise-oled-vana/.

Can a parent take a child to a work meeting, if necessary?

YesA
NoB
Yes. If it is not possible to organise daycare, it is considered appropriate for a parent to take a child to the office. Prohibiting this could be considered harassment. Harassment is unwanted or unpleasant repetitive behaviour that creates an undignified, aggressive, offensive or hostile environment based on gender, sex, race, skin colour, nationality, religious beliefs, convictions, age, disability, or sexual preference. Harassment is a form of discrimination.

Can colleagues belittle a person who brings a child to a meeting?

YesA
NoB
No. Belittling a parent at work or making offensive comments may cause discomfort to the parent and he/she may perceive it as harassment. Therefore, it is not appropriate to belittle people based on their inherent qualities, such as being a parent.

Is a father entitled to parental leave?

YesA
NoB
Yes. In Estonia, the government provides parental leave and separate paternity leave. Working fathers are entitled to paternity leave for 30 calendar days until the child is three years old. The purpose of paternity leave is to encourage fathers to be more involved in childcare – this ensures a more equal distribution of childrearing activities.

Are family members obliged to take care of an adult close family member?

YesA
NoB
No. If an adult person is not capable of taking care of themselves, close relatives (parents, children, grandparents, or grandchildren) are obliged to provide financial support to the relative. The obligation of financial support to one’s parents or grandparents should be distinct from providing personal care during working time. The level of assistance is determined by the local municipality who is obliged to help the person concerned.

Are the work obligations of one parent more important than the hobbies of another parent?

YesA
NoB
No. Both parents have the right to balanced work, family, and private life. Every person has the right to choose the kind of personal fulfilment that makes them happy without the fear of being disregarded or discriminated against. No gender stereotypes or other people’s convictions, opinions, and assessments should limit or dictate the right of men or women to make decisions.

Can a vulnerable person who needs assistance contribute to society?

YesA
NoB
Yes. Despite needing assistance, a person should have equal possibilities to participate in society. If a person has a wish to contribute, there is no need to be ashamed of health constraints – the person should rather ask for help in case of vulnerabilities.

Does a flexible work organisation differ much from a regular work organisation?

YesA
NoB
Yes. If regular working time is during certain hours from Monday to Friday, a flexible work organisation’s working time is part-time or work done at irregular hours (evenings, nights, and weekends). Working in shifts is also considered irregular (based on the recording of the total working time).

Can meetings be planned for after working hours?

YesA
NoB
No. An employee shall fulfil work tasks during working time. There is no obligation to fulfil work tasks after working hours.

Can a person ask for help from a local municipality to organise daycare?

YesA
NoB
Yes. Local municipalities provide different social services. For example, local municipalities offer daycare for children aged 1.5 to 3 years to support the parent’s adjustment and work.

Can one ask for help from an employer or from a local municipality in addition to a personal support network?

YesA
NoB
Yes. In the workplace, an employee should notify the employer about their needs concerning work-life balance. An employee should explain their needs for work-life balance. Assistance is also available from a local municipality or school.

Are schools responsible for teaching?

YesA
NoB
Yes. Parents shall not be obliged to teach children at home. Any student may need help for their studies and the school is obliged to offer that help. General help is offered to a student who has difficulties fulfilling school attendance or who has fallen behind in achieving learning objectives. The help may include individual guidance, the services of support specialists and, if necessary, additional individual or group lessons.

Can a manager contact an employee after working hours?

YesA
NoB
No. An employee shall fulfil work tasks during working time. There is no obligation to fulfil work tasks, answer the phone, or host the employer at home after working hours.

Should an employee talk about his/her needs with the employer?

YesA
NoB
Yes. The employee must notify the employer about the needs and problems concerning work-life balance. The employee should communicate the need for work-life balance. After that, the employer is obliged to reasonably take into account the needs of the employee.

Does the employer need to take action if a colleague is discriminated against based on his/her gender?

YesA
NoB
Yes. Belittling someone at work or offensive comments may cause discomfort to a person and he/she may perceive it as harassment. Therefore, it is not appropriate to belittle people based on their inherent qualities. In case of clearly offensive comments, the employer is not allowed to stay passive and explain this behaviour as a conflict between employees. On the contrary, the employer must put an end to harassment between employees. The employer must ensure an environment where no employee feels harassed.

Did you know that an employer must consider the needs of their employees?

YesA
NoB
Yes/no. Achieving work-life balance means that working conditions should be reasonably acceptable to all persons. Depending on the work tasks and position of a person, there are different possibilities for an employer to help balance work and family life.

Can an employer offer flexible working time?

YesA
NoB
Yes. By promoting equality between women and men, the employer has a responsibility to make working conditions suitable for both women and men and to improve the balance of work and family life concerning the needs of employees.

Is a local municipality obliged to offer solutions for work-life balance?

YesA
NoB
Yes. A local municipality is obliged to provide different social services that help balance work and family life. For example, local municipalities provide day-care services for children aged 1.5 to 3. They also support the coping and working of a parent and/or a guardian of children under 18 who have a severe or profound disability. Other social services provided by the local municipality such as adult care services or personal assistant services also help to balance work and family life.

Does a parent have to have “me-time”?

YesA
NoB
Yes. For a parent to be able to work and be a devoted parent, me-time is also important.

Can a vulnerable person be engaged in work suitable for his/her abilities?

YesA
NoB
Yes. A person with a special need does not have to rule out working. If a person needs adjustments in the workplace, the employer must provide these adjustments to a reasonable extent. Social welfare institutions also play a role in providing adjustments and resources.

Are the needs of all family members important?

YesA
NoB
Yes. Every person has the right to choose the kind of personal fulfilment that makes them happy. Gender equality entails the equal rights of men and women in their obligations, possibilities, and responsibilities in working life, and education and other social aspects of life.

Is child rearing both the right and obligation of a parent?

YesA
NoB
Yes. The right to support, protect, and raise children is both a right and an obligation. The primary responsibility of securing the rights and well-being of a child lies on a parent or person rearing the child. The person rearing the child must be supported by state and local municipalities in ensuring the rights and well-being of the child, and by public and private law as legal persons according to their competence.

Does an employer have to provide the employee with suitable tools if the employee needs them due to his/her special needs or flexible work organization?

YesA
NoB
Yes. In the case of a special need of an employee or flexible work organisation, the employer must provide the necessary work equipment for the employee.

Is it only the responsibility of the children to help their vulnerable parents during working hours?

YesA
NoB
No. Local municipalities also provide social services to support coping and working. For example, adult care services or personal assistant services help balance work and family life.

Does a local municipality have to find a solution arising from a person’s need for care?

YesA
NoB
Yes. Local municipalities also provide social services to support coping and working. For example, adult care services or personal assistant services help balance work and family life.

Should only the mother be at home with a sick child?

YesA
NoB
No. Although parents are responsible for arranging the care of a sick child, this does not mean that only the mother or father must take care of the sick child at home. Based on a certificate of care for leave, someone else who can take care of and support the child, such as a relative or acquaintance, may also be left to care for a sick child.

Is belittling a co-worker for fulfilling family responsibilities allowed?

YesA
NoB
No. Belittling someone at work or making offensive comments may cause discomfort to a person and he/she may perceive it as harassment. Therefore, it is not appropriate to belittle people based on their inherent qualities like fulfilling family responsibilities.

Is it necessary to give an employee free time due to an unexpected family event?

YesA
NoB
Yes. The employer must allow paid free time of a reasonable amount for personal matters, including being absent from work due to family reasons, sickness, or an accident if it is not possible to deal with these events during after-working hours.

Is a parent and his/her partner entitled to their hobbies?

YesA
NoB
Yes. A parent is a person with individual needs. The ability to take personal needs into account is important. If a parent dedicates his/her time to work and family only, leaving personal needs aside, it may cause harmful effects to the parent’s mental and physical health.

Is it more beneficial for an employer when employees are well-rested?

YesA
NoB
Yes. The law prescribes the rules for working and rest time so that the employees are well-rested for work. If necessary, the employer can provide additional days off if the employee needs it, for example, for family reasons.

Can an employer withhold a bonus if the employee was absent from work or took leave for family reasons?

YesA
NoB
No. An employee fulfilling family responsibilities shall not be treated less favourably or discriminated against in the award of any benefits, promotion, or other instances.

Can an employee take carer’s leave?

YesA
NoB
Yes. An employee who significantly cares for or supports a person in need due to a serious health problem is called a carer. The carer can use an incapacity for work certificate or a certificate for care leave to fulfil the obligation.

Should colleagues be understanding of a father who brings their child to work with them?

YesA
NoB
Yes. The responsibility involved in raising a child should be borne equally by both parents. In an organisation, colleagues and the employer play an important role in ensuring that workers who need to look after a child are comfortable at work if they have to bring the child in with them.

Do employees have the right to take a temporary leave of absence from work to attend to personal matters?

YesA
NoB
Yes. If there is a pressing reason that an employee is unable to work, the employer is required by law to pay them the average wage for the (reasonable) amount of time they are absent from work. This could include dealing with an accident at home or attending an appointment with a doctor or in an institution or office that is not available outside of working hours. The employer can regulate the procedure for obtaining leave of absence in the rules on the organisation of their work.

Is the local government required to provide the home service to those who need assistance with everyday activities?

YesA
NoB
Yes. The home service is designed for people who need assistance around the home. They can be helped by, for example, collecting firewood or water, preparing food, cleaning or washing. The service also includes assistance outside of the home if this is needed for the person to be able to cope on a day-to-day basis, such as doing their shopping for them or taking them to a doctor’s appointment.

Should parents take a job abroad if they have young children and parents in need of care?

YesA
NoB
Yes. Parents too should be able to make the most of the opportunities that come their way, include career opportunities. When you move to another Member State of the European Union, all of the rights of the residents of that Member State extend to you. A number of options are available in dealing with care obligations. Ask your employer or local government for help.

Can an employee be excluded from a company’s expansion plans because they have fallen pregnant?

YesA
NoB
No. Employees may not be treated less favourably because of pregnancy.