Currency: Norwegian Krone (NOK)

Capital: Oslo

Official language: Norwegian and Sámi

Payroll Cycle: Monthly

Paid Time Off

In Norway, employees are entitled to 25 days of paid holiday a year as best practice. Mandatory paid time of is 20 days.

They are also entitled to a Holiday Pay of 12% of their gross salary, this mandatory benefit will be calculated on the gross salary accumulated from January - December. This monthly accumulated percentage will serve to pay the benefit in June. In June, the employee, instead of receiving her salary will receive the accumulated 12% according to the time worked.

Public Holidays

Norway has 12 public holidays per year.

• New Year's Day
• Maundy Thursday
• Good Friday
• Easter
• Easter Monday
• Labour Day
• Ascension Day
• Whitsun
• Whit Monday
• Norway National Day
• 1st Christmas Day
• 2nd Christmas Day

Individual Income Tax

The average for this tax ranges from a base income tax of 22%, up to 49% and depending on many variables, but specially the income:

• + 1.7% is charged up to an income of 260,100 NOK
• + 4% is charged up to an income of 651,520 NOK
• + 13.2% is charged up to an income of 1,021,550 NOK
• + 16.2 is charged for incomes above 1,021,550 NOK

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Employer Cost

The Employer Tax is approximately 14.1% of employee salary

Employment Contract Details

There are no specific rules governing the language used to write employment contracts. Contracts must always be in writing.

Probation Period

The maximum probation period is 6 months.

Minimum Wage Requirements

There are no provisions regarding minimum salary stipulated in law.  

Maximum working hours and overtime

Standard working hours are generally 7.5 hours per day and 37.5 hours per week. The maximum allowed is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.

Bonus and expense payments

Bonuses may be paid. Terms and conditions are determined by the parties and must be included in the employment agreement to be enforced.

Parental Leave

Parents have the right to a total leave of 12 months, including the right to pregnancy leave and the right to maternity leave. The leave must be taken after maternity leave. A total of 10 weeks are reserved for either parent. Note, for the mother the first 6 weeks after the birth are mandatory and are included in her 10 weeks. Apart from these limitations, the parents are free to divide between them the remaining period of parental leave.

• Maternity leave: employees must take 3 weeks before the child is born and 6 weeks immediately after his birth. For 44 weeks, employees are entitled to receive 100% of their salary from the National Insurance. The period can be extended up to 54 weeks but with an income of 80% of their salary.
• Paternity leave: employees are entitled to 14 weeks of leave. In addition, 2 weeks of unpaid leave of absence in connection with the birth.

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Sick Leave

In the event of sickness employees must notify the employer immediately of their condition. The employer is normally responsible for the payment of the compensation for the first 16 days of the employee’s sickness leave, provided the employee has been employed for a qualifying period of at least 4 weeks. Employees are entitled to sick pay for 1 year. Following the employer’s period of responsibility, the National Insurance Scheme is responsible for the payment. The amount of sick pay from the Social Security is limited.

Terminations must be justified and employees must receive written notice letter. Employees can appeal to a court if they consider the dismissal unjustified. There is no statutory right to severance pay in Norway.

The employee is however still entitled to their ordinary salary payment and additional contractual benefits during the period of notice in accordance with the terms of employment.

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Notice Period

Severance pay is due according to the notice period. Notice periods depends on the se seniority of the employee and in some cases the age:

• Up to 5 years - 1 month
• Up to 9 years - 2 months
• 10 years - 3 months
• Ten years and +50 years old- 4 months
• Ten years and +55 years old - 4 months
• Ten years and +60 years old - 4 months

The standard is 3 months.