Norway
Norway offers a diverse range of employment opportunities, attracting both domestic and international talent to contribute to its thriving workforce.
Employment Termination and Notice Period in Norway
The legal notice period that an employer must give when terminating an employee varies from 1 to 6 months, depending on the term of employment, age, and length of service with the company. It is more common to agree to a 3 month notice period.
A dismissal must be objectively justified by circumstances relating to the operation of the business, the employer, or the employee. This applies to both individual and collective dismissals. Before making a decision regarding a dismissal with notice, the employer must discuss the matter with the employee and an elected employee representative, unless the employee himself does not wish to do so. Employees who give notice must generally comply with the notice period stipulated in their employment contract, which cannot exceed three months. Notice of termination must be in writing, contain precise information as required by law, and be delivered to the employee in person or sent by registered mail to the employee's home.
In the event of a serious breach of duty, either party may also terminate the employment for a cause with immediate effect, without observing a notice period. Valid reasons for immediate termination include crimes against the employer.
Average salary, average employer costs and working hours in Norway
In 2022, the average salary in Norway was $59.917,00. This is slightly higher than the average annual salary in the United States, which is $53,490.00. As an employer, the actual employer costs are approximately 14.1% higher than the gross annual salary. Based on an annual salary of $59.917,00, employment costs would be $68.305,61.
See all average salaries in Europe in 2024
According to the Working Environment Act, the standard for working hours is 40 hours per week. However, the standard set in all collective agreements is 37.5 hours per week. For shift work, the standard working hours are shorter. Employees may be entitled to reduced working hours for health, social, or welfare reasons. The law also establishes the right to flexible working hours if this can be arranged without major inconvenience to the employer.
The employer is obliged to keep an account of the hours actually worked by each employee. Overtime must be compensated. All employees, with the exception of managers and staff in particularly independent positions, are entitled to at least 40% overtime pay.
Paid vacation leave and public holidays in Norway
All employees are entitled to four weeks and one day of paid vacation per calendar year. If the company is bound by a collective bargaining agreement, its employees are entitled to five weeks of vacation per year. Five weeks is the most common arrangement, even in companies that are not bound by a collective agreement. Employees aged 60 and over are entitled to an additional week of vacation.
Employees are legally entitled to have these holidays in Norway.
- New Year's Day - 1 January
- Maundy Thursday - 28 March
- Good Friday - 29 March
- Easter Sunday - 31 March
- Easter Monday - 1 April
- Labour Day - 1 May
- Ascension Day - 9 May
- Constitution Day - 17 May
- Whit Sunday - 19 May
- Whit Monday - 20 May
- Christmas Day - 25 December
- Boxing Day - 26 December
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Monique Ramondt-Sanders
CCO & VP of HR Outsourcing