Working Time Standards in Norway: Solutions for Various Occasions
Definition of Working Time
The Norwegian Labor Code, known as arbeidsmiljøloven, specifies working time as the period during which the employee is at the employer's disposal. However, any time outside this range is free time.
Limitations on Daily and Weekly Working Time
Norwegian regulations set clear limits on working hours:
- Daily: Maximum 9 hours.
- Weekly: No more than 40 hours. For shift or night workers, shortened working weeks apply - 38 or 36 hours.
Working Time Records
Employers are obliged to keep accurate records of their employees' working time. This is crucial to ensuring compliance with legal standards.
Average Working Hours System
The ability to calculate average working time allows for flexibility. An employee may sometimes work more than the agreed limits, but only if his weekly average does not exceed normal hours.
Individual Employment Contracts
These agreements may allow for:
- Daily: Up to 10 hours.
- Weekly: Up to 48 hours. However, the average working time cannot exceed the statutory standard.
Collective Agreements
Workplaces that have entered into a collective agreement may agree on:
- Daily: Up to 12,5 hours.
- Weekly: Up to 54 hours. Similarly, compliance with average working time limits is mandatory.
Working Overtime
Norwegian regulations clearly state that overtime work is only allowed in exceptional, temporary situations. There are limits:
- Weekly: Maximum 10 hours.
- Within 4 weeks: No more than 25 hours.
- Annually: Up to 200 hours. Total working time, including overtime, may not exceed 13 hours per day and 48 hours per week.
Contractual Exceptions and Permits
Both shop steward agreements and Arbeidstilsynet permits may allow these limits to be extended. Thanks to these consents, the employee can work:
- Weekly: Up to 20 hours of overtime.
- Over a period of 26 weeks: Up to 200 hours of overtime. However, employees must agree to such conditions.
Overtime Pay
For overtime hours, you are entitled to an allowance of at least 40% of the agreed hourly rate. The benefits of collective agreements often exceed the minimum statutory requirements, offering better financial conditions.
Working time in Norway
Working time standards in Norway strike a balance between business needs and the protection of employee rights. Flexible working time management systems and clear regulations on overtime make it possible to adapt employers' requirements to the individual needs of employees, while protecting their health and well-being.
Soba enumeration
In certain cases, working time in Norway may be accounted for differently than stipulated in the law. However, it is worth being aware of the fact that what the actual working time will look like depends on who the agreement is signed in the presence of. Three situations can be distinguished: a contract signed between the employer and the employee; Collective agreement with company shop steward and permission from the Arbeidstilsynet.
Agreement between the employee and the employer
It is worth emphasizing that working time in Norway may be settled over longer periods. In justified cases, an employee may work 9 hours a day and 48 hours a week. However, each time such a situation must be included in the employment contract and may not last longer than one calendar year. Additionally, the working time may not exceed the sum of statutory hours in a given accounting year.
Also read: Employment contract in Norway - how to take care of your rights? >>>
Collective agreement with the company shop steward
If the employer has decided to change the working hours under a collective agreement signed by the company shop steward, the actual working hours may be longer. In this case, employees can work:
- 10 hours a day,
- 54 hours a week.
However, it should be remembered that the sum of hours worked cannot be higher than it is required by the statutory standards. Additionally, such a system cannot be practiced for more than 8 weeks.
Working time in Norway - important information
Importantly, the working time in Norway cannot exceed 13 hours a day and 48 hours a week. The weekly work schedule may be spread over e.g. 8 weeks. This means that at certain times the weekly working hours may be more than 48 hours in return for correspondingly fewer hours spent at work in other weeks.
