Will you be taking parental leave, long-term care leave or vitality leave? Or are you planning a sabbatical? If so, you then take leave. You then work less or not at all during that period. It could result in you not accruing a pension during your leave.
Together with your employer, you have made arrangements as to whether or not your pension accrual continues during your period of leave. These arrangements are laid down in the employment conditions or the collective labour agreement. Often your pension accrual changes during the period of leave, but sometimes it does not. Therefore always make sure to check with your employer to find out what the arrangements are within your company.
If you have a child under the age of eight, you are entitled to parental leave. The law provides that this is 26 times the number of hours you work per week. Even though parental leave is usually unpaid leave, the pension accrual often does continue. Please check with your employer to find out how parental leave is set up within your company.
Will you be taking care of a sick loved one for an extended period of time? If so, you are entitled to long-term care leave. The law provides that you are entitled to a maximum of six times the number of hours you work per week for every twelve months. As an example, if you work 38 hours a week, you are then entitled to a maximum of 228 hours of care leave. Even though long-term care leave is usually unpaid leave, the pension accrual often does continue. Please check with your employer to find out how long-term care leave is set up within your company.
If you plan on taking a sabbatical, please check with your employer to find out whether your pension accrual continues during your period of leave. Depending on what your employer has arranged regarding you pension scheme, your pension accrual continues for a maximum of twelve months in the case of a sabbatical. You agree with your employer whether you will have to pay a personal contribution for your pension contribution. Therefore, always make sure to check with your employer what arrangements are applicable.
An increasing number of employers are finding it more important that their employees remain sustainably deployable. If your employer offers vitality leave, you are given the option of (temporarily) taking a step back. For example, if you want to take a break when the (work) pressure is or may be getting too high, or to be able to work towards your pension in a healthy and vital manner and without absenteeism. You usually retain your pension accrual during the vitality leave. Please check with your employer to find out how vitality leave is set up in your company.
What does not change during the leave is the partner's pension. This will continue to be fully insured. Your last salary will serve as the starting point for the period of leave. Your employer may choose to also insure the orphan's pension during the leave. In some pension schemes, this is already automatically the case.