Engagement of employees

Any trial period must be agreed on in writing, and must not exceed six months. The employer must inform employees of vacant posts in the undertaking.

Private undertakings are in principle free to engage whoever they wish, but discrimination of individual groups is prohibited. The employer’s managerial prerogative may also be limited by statutory preferential rights. In public undertakings, engagement of employees is also regulated by other legislation and collective agreements (e.g. the Civil Service Act, the Public Administration Act and the Basic Agreement for the Civil Service).

Temporary engagement of employees

If a person is to be employed temporarily, one or more of the following conditions must be present:

• When the work is of a temporary nature. Examples are seasonal work and project work. The ordinary day-to-day tasks of the undertaking are not to be performed by temporary employees.
• Work as a trainee. This is employment designed to provide training or qualifications in a field, and must involve a training situation beyond that which is normal for performance of the duties of the post.
• Work as a temporary replacement for another person or persons. This must involve a genuine replacement situation, e.g. replacement of a person on sick leave or in connection with other leave or holiday.
• Participants in labour market schemes under the auspices of or in cooperation with the Labour and Welfare Service.
• Certain posts in sports - athletes, trainers, referees and other leaders within organised sports.
• Work in the areas of art, research or sport subject to a collective agreement between a national union and the employer.

The employment shall be terminated automatically on the agreed final date or on completion of the agreed work.

Temporary employees hired on a general basis, or as a temporary replacement for another person are entitled to a permanent position after three years of consecutive temporary employment. The same applies when a worker has been temporary employed on various grounds, but at least once during these three years has been temporary employed on a general basis or as a temporary replacement for another person.

Prohibition against discrimination

In connection with engagement of employees, the Working Environment Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender (regulated by the Gender Equality Act), religion, ethical and cultural orientation, colour, national or ethnic origin (regulated by the Anti-discrimination Act), political views, membership of a trade union, sexual orientation, disability or age.

The employer may not obtain information concerning the applicants’ political, religious or cultural views or membership of trade unions.

However, this prohibition shall not apply if obtaining such information is justified by the nature of the post or if the objective of the activity of the employer in question includes promotion of specific political, religious or cultural views and the post is essential for the fulfilment of the objective. This applies correspondingly to information concerning sexual orientation. In cases where such information will be required, this must be stated when advertising the vacancy.

In connection with engagement of employees for posts associated with religious communities, exceptions are provided from the prohibition against discrimination on the basis of homosexual cohabitation subject to statement in the advertisement of the post of special requirements concerning the nature of the post or the purpose of the undertaking.

Preferential rights

Employees who are dismissed owing to staff reduction shall have preferential rights in connection with engagement of employees.

Such preferential rights apply only if the employee is qualified for the post and if the employee has been employed by the undertaking for a total of at least 12 months during the previous two years.

Such preferential rights shall apply for one year from expiry of the notice period. Such preferential rights shall not apply to employees engaged as temporary replacements.

Part-time employees also have preferential rights to an extended post rather than that the employer shall create a new appointment in the undertaking. Such preferential rights apply only if the employee is qualified for the post and exercise of the preferential right does not involving significant inconvenience for the undertaking.

Disputes concerning preferential rights for part-time employees may be brought before the Dispute Resolution Board.

The role of the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority

The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority may only provide advice and guidance on legal provisions when it comes to engagement of employees. In the event of disputes, you may seek legal assistance, if appropriate, from the trade union to which you belong.

The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority may nevertheless order the employer to draft a written contract of employment and supervise that the use of temporary employees does not exceed 15 perscent of the total workforce in an undertaking. The use of temporary employees are to be discussed with the workers representatives.