Effortless Hiring in Norway

Employment Contracts

• Norwegian law mandates that all employees receive a written employment contract. This contract must include:
• Job responsibilities.
• Compensation.
• Working hours.
• Other essential terms.
• The contract must be provided within one month of employment commencement to ensure clarity and mutual understanding.

Probationary Period

• Employers may implement a probationary period of up to six months. During this time, either party can terminate the employment with a shorter notice period, which should be specified in the contract. Typically, the notice period is one month after the first month of probation.

Payroll Frequency

• Employees are generally paid on a monthly basis, with payments made on a predetermined date agreed upon in the employment contract.

Minimum Wage

• Norway does not have a universal statutory minimum wage. Instead, wages are determined through collective bargaining agreements between employers and trade unions, which set industry-specific wage standards.

Overtime

• Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week. Overtime is compensated at:
• 150% of the regular hourly wage for the first two hours.
• 200% for additional hours beyond that.
• Overtime arrangements should be clearly defined in the employment contract or collective labor agreements.

Employee Contributions

1. Income Tax: Norway employs a progressive income tax system with rates ranging from 9.28% to 49.5% depending on income levels and municipal tax rates.
2. Social Security: Employees contribute approximately 8.2% of their gross salary to the National Insurance Scheme, which funds various social benefits.

Employer Contributions

1. Social Security: Employers contribute approximately 14.1% of the employee's gross salary to the National Insurance Scheme.
2. Pension Contributions: Employers may be required to contribute to employee pension schemes, especially if mandated by sector-specific pension funds.

Types of Leave in Norway

1. Annual Leave

• Employees are entitled to a minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave per year (based on a five-day work week).

2. Sick Leave

• Employees are entitled to sick leave benefits covering up to 100% of their salary for up to 52 weeks. Employers are required to provide sick pay for up to 16 days per year; after this period, employees may be eligible for sick pay from the National Insurance Scheme.

3. Parental Leave

• Norway offers generous parental leave policies:
• 49 weeks at full pay or 59 weeks at 80% pay, which can be shared between parents.

Social Security Benefits

• Contributions to the National Insurance Scheme provide various benefits including health care, parental benefits, disability benefits, and retirement pensions.

Health Insurance

• While the public health system covers most medical services, many employers offer supplementary health insurance as part of their compensation packages.

Notice Period

• The statutory notice period varies based on the employee's length of service:
• Up to 6 months: 1 day per month of employment.
• From 6 months to 1 year: 6 days plus an additional 2.5 days for each additional month.
• Over 1 year: At least 1 month.

Severance Pay

• While not mandatory by law, severance pay may be stipulated in collective agreements or individual employment contracts.

Dismissal Procedures

• Employers must have "just cause" for termination, which can relate to personal reasons (e.g., misconduct) or economic reasons (e.g., redundancy). Specific procedures must be followed according to the Employment Protection Act, including providing written notice and allowing the employee an opportunity to respond.