Membership in the unemployment fund is worthwhile, because the earnings-related benefit for someone who becomes unemployed after full-time employment is significantly higher than the fixed-rate basic unemployment allowance or labor market subsidy paid by Kela!

Layoff

A layoff means that the employer unilaterally reduces working hours for production-related or financial reasons. However, the employment relationship otherwise remains in force as normal.
During a layoff, you are entitled to apply for earnings-related unemployment allowance, provided that you meet the other eligibility requirements.
A layoff notice must always be issued for the layoff period. The employer must provide this notice at least 14 days before the layoff begins.
The employer may implement a layoff in different ways: by suspending work entirely (the layoff lasts at least one full calendar week), by shortening the workweek (for example, reducing it by one full working day) or by reducing daily working hours.
If you receive other income during the layoff period — for example, social benefits, business income, or income from part-time or occasional work — you will receive adjusted unemployment allowance.
If your working hours during a calendar week exceed 80% of the full-time working hours in your sector, unemployment allowance is not paid for that week.
For part-time work, adjusted allowance is always paid, even if you have been laid off for shortened workweeks or workdays.
You may also be entitled to unemployment allowance in situations comparable to a layoff, such as during school holidays in educational institutions. Read more on this topic.
Earnings-related unemployment allowance during a layoff is applied for through Nettikassa.