How many working hours is there a week?
Am I entitled to holiday and holiday pay?
Am I entitled to leave from work?
How does self-certified sickness absence scheme work?
Will I get sickness benefit?
Can I get unemployment benefit?

 

The Working Environment Act regulates your rights to take time off. The National Insurance Act regulates your rights to benefits.

Working hours: 40 hours per seven days Working hours

Normal working hours are maximum 40 hours per seven days. Employees are entitled to a break if their daily working hours exceed five and a half hours and breaks should be total half an hour if daily working hours exceed eight hours.

Work in excess of normal working hours shall only occur if it is specifically required and is of a limited duration, and this work shall then be compensated with an overtime supplement of at least 400 per cent of normal hourly pay. Night work and work on Sundays is only permitted if the nature of work makes it necessary.

Holiday and holiday pay

All employees starting their job before 30 October are entitled to 25 working days holiday by the end of the holiday year (which follows the calendar year). There are six working days in a week, so this means four weeks and one day. The employee is entitled to three continuous weeks` holiday during their main holiday period from 1 June to 30 September. The stipulation of holiday must be discussed in advance. Any holidays not taken are transferred to the following holiday year

Holiday pay is earned the year before it is paid. Holiday pay is 10.2 per cent of the wages paid during the earning year. You are entitled to be paid your holiday pay one week before taking your holiday.

 

Public holidays:

1 January, New Year’s Day
Palm Sunday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Easter Monday
Ascension Day
1 May
17 May, National Day of Norway
Whit Sunday
Whit Monday
25 December, Christmas Day
26 December, Boxing Day

 

Leave from work because of child care Leave

You are entitled to take leave in connection with pregnancy, births and parental leave. Parents are entitled to take leave from work until the child is three years old, the first year with pay. Women may also take their time to breastfeed their children.

If you have a child under the age of 12 who is ill, you can also leave. This right covers ten days a year or 15 days if you have more than two children.

Self-certified sickness absence/Sick leave

You can use self-declared sick leave to notify your employer that you are unable to work due to illness. The self-declaration can be used up to four times a year, three days at a time. Sick leaves exceeding three days require a medical certificate.

Sickness-benefit

Loss of income due to illness may be compensated with sickness benefit. You have to be employed at least four weeks before sick leave begins. The maximum period of sickness benefit is 52 weeks. You are entitled to sickness benefit from your first day of absence. The employer pays the benefit for the first 16 days, after which the Nnational Insurance Scheme takes over.

You may be entitled to sickness and unemployment benefit Unemployment benefit

To be entitled to unemployment benefit, your working hours must usually have been reduced by at least 50 per cent. You must also live and reside in Norway, be willing to do any kind of work and be registered as a job seeker at www.nav.no.

Entitlement to unemployment benefit earned in another EEA country can be transferred to Norway using form E-301 from the country where you used to work.
You may also keep your Norwegian unemployment benefit up to three months while seeking job in another EEA country.

 

Trade union organisations

Joining a trade union is standard practice in Norway. This is viewed as a positive thing by both employers and employees. The organisation level is approx. 53%. The trade union organisations have extensive rights in respect of information and negotiations. This includes the trade unions’ entitlement to negotiations with the employer and their organisations, including all conditions relating to the relationship between employer and employee. Central wage contracts are entered into between the trade union organisations and the relevant employer organisation. Below you find the three main organisations for researchers.

 

• The Norwegian Association of Researchers (NAR)
  The Norwegian Association of Researchers has over 17 000 members, making it Norway's largest and leading trade and special interest organisation for employees in research, higher education and cultural heritage work.
• NTL
  Norsk Tjenestemannslag (NTL) (in Norwegian) is an organisation for employees in public sector and in institutions connected to public sector (ex universities).
• Tekna
  The Norwegian Society of Graduate Technical and Scientific Professionals is Norway´s largest society of professionals with a master´s degree or equivalent in science or technology. Eligibility for membership is based on qualifications, not on where you work and what you do.
  
   

See also: European Network of health and safety at work, Norwegian portal The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority NAV