Working in a home office? Remember about the written contract! – Contract template

Many must have such contracts

It's been three years since the coronavirus pandemic turned work life upside down and changed the norm for home offices. A lot has happened since then companies offered to employees part of the time working from home, for a certain number of days a week.

Homework can be viewed positively by both employers and employees. However, the employer must be aware that this office solution also has its requirements. 

The requirements include the protection of the physical and psychosocial working environment. In addition, the employer and the employee must enter into a written remote work agreement.

– Anyone who works from home on a permanent basis must enter into a written contract to work from home. If the homework has a defined scope and is done regularly, it is a fixed arrangement. An example would be if an employee works from home one fixed day a week, says section leader Tonje Faanes at the Norwegian Labor Inspectorate.

Download and customize

The Norwegian Labor Inspectorate is now introducing a model homework contract to help companies that do not yet have such contracts. However, it should be noted that the template requires some adjustments to reflect the reality of your company.

– The remote employment contract is an additional contract to the regular employment contract. Among other things, it should say something about how much the work is focused on working from home and who is responsible for the equipment that the employee uses at home, says Tonje Faanes.

Read our next article: Before you plan to leave Norway. Order the European Health Insurance Card S1

Content requirements

Homework contracts must contain at least the following information:

• extent of homework, such as how many days/hours per week
• working hours that apply to working from home
• how long the contract lasts, if temporary
• ownership and operation and maintenance of equipment

The contract should also say something about other issues related to the arrangement of the home office. Here are some of the things you can include in the contract:

• When an employee must be available to the employer
• Right and deadline to withdraw from the contract
• Trial period for the program
• Case management, confidentiality and storage of digital and printed records

One exception to the requirement

There is one exception to the requirement that anyone with a permanent home office must have a written contract.

The exception is when homework is ordered or recommended by the authorities. In this case, employees may receive written information instead of a written contract. In such cases, the employer must discuss the information with trade union representatives before giving it.

The pandemic is an example of such an extraordinary situation.