All About Employee Leave & PTO in Norway
Learn what you need to know about leave requirements in Norway and how Justworks EOR can help streamline hiring.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO
In Norway, employees have clearly defined leave entitlements protected by various labor laws. Under the same labor laws, employers must also track leave accurately to ensure employees receive the time off they’re entitled to. Justworks helps support compliant leave administration so you don’t have to manage local processes on your own.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Norway
Employees in Norway working under an employment contract are entitled to multiple types of paid and unpaid leave, which generally can’t be waived.
Vacation Leave
Employees receive at least 21 working days of annual leave per year or four weeks plus one day. Though common collective agreements which apply to some employment contracts specify at least five weeks. Employees do not receive regular salary during vacation, instead they receive holiday pay accrued in the prior calendar year, with a rate of 10.2% of gross wages earned in the previous year (12% for employees aged 60+). This is paid out in June of the following year. In June, the employer deducts regular salary for vacation days and simultaneously pays out the prior year's accrued holiday pay.
Sick Leave
Employees are entitled to paid sick leave. During the first 16 days of sick leave, the employee receives compensation from their employer. After that, sick benefits are paid through the National Insurance Scheme.
Maternity Leave/Parental Leave
Mothers are entitled to parental leave, which includes maternity leave and shared parental leave. Parental leave is capped at 49 weeks at 100% pay, or 61 weeks at 80%, during which pay may be available through the National Insurance Scheme. 15 weeks of this leave must be used exclusively for the mother including three weeks before birth and 6 weeks after.
Paternity Leave
Fathers are entitled to a dedicated amount of 15 weeks of paid parental leave through the National Insurance Scheme. The remaining parental leave can be used or split by the mother or father.
Parental Leave
In addition to paid parental leave, each parent may be entitled to up to 12 months of unpaid leave immediately following the paid period, subject to statutory requirements.
Additional Leave Types
Norwegian law also provides for other types of leave with varying eligibility and statutory entitlements, including:
Leave to care for sick children
Leave for jury duty
Leave for education or training under certain conditions
Compassionate leave in limited circumstances
Public Holidays in Norway
Norway observes 13 public holidays each year, and employees generally receive paid time off for these days. However, observance and compensation rules vary by collective agreements and industry. Work on public holidays is restricted unless required due to the nature of the work.
The statutory public holidays in Norway are:
January 1 – New Year’s Day
Maundy Thursday – Date varies
Good Friday – Date varies
Easter Sunday – Date varies
Easter Monday – Date varies
May 1 – Labour Day
May 17 – Constitution Day
Ascension Day – Date varies
Whit Sunday – Date varies
Whit Monday – Date varies
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
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