Norway

In Norway, the Norwegian Holiday Act (Ferieloven) governs vacation entitlements. All employees have a right to a minimum of 25 working days of paid vacation per year. Saturdays are considered working days for the purpose of calculating vacation leave, meaning 25 working days equate to four weeks and one day. Employees aged 60 years or older are entitled to an additional week of paid vacation, totaling 31 days.

Vacation Pay

Vacation pay, or feriepenger, is calculated as a percentage of the previous year's earnings. The minimum percentage is 10.2%. However, collective bargaining agreements or company policy may stipulate a higher percentage, often around 12%. Vacation pay is usually paid out in June, right before the main summer holiday period.

Scheduling and Taking Vacation

Employees have the right to take three consecutive weeks (18 working days) of vacation during the main holiday period, which runs from June 1st to September 30th. The scheduling of vacation days is typically agreed upon between the employer and employee. If no agreement can be reached, the employer has the final say but must provide the employee with at least two weeks' notice of the vacation dates. Employees have the discretion to decide how to use the remaining vacation days.

Unused Vacation

Unused vacation days can be carried over to the following year, but they generally must be used within the calendar year. Special provisions may apply if illness or other circumstances prevent the employee from using their vacation.

Norway celebrates a variety of public holidays throughout the year.

New Year's Day (Nyttårsdag)

Celebrated on January 1st, New Year's Day marks the beginning of a new calendar year.

Easter (Påske)

The dates for Easter vary each year as they are determined by the lunar calendar, usually falling in late March through April. This major Christian holiday commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It includes Maundy Thursday (Skjærtorsdag), Good Friday (Langfredag), Easter Sunday (Første Påskedag), and Easter Monday (Andre Påskedag).

Labor Day (Arbeidernes dag)

Labor Day is celebrated on May 1st and is a day to honor the labor movement and workers' rights.

Constitution Day (Grunnlovsdagen)

Constitution Day, celebrated on May 17th, is Norway's National Day. It marks the signing of the constitution in 1814.

Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfartsdag)

Ascension Day is celebrated 40 days after Easter and the date varies each year. It is a Christian holiday commemorating Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven.

Pentecost (Pinse)

Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Easter and the date varies each year. It is a Christian holiday marking the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus's apostles.

Christmas (Jul)

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th and 26th and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. It includes Christmas Day (Første Juledag) and Boxing Day (Andre Juledag).

In Norway, employees are entitled to various types of leave.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to paid sick leave for up to one year (52 weeks). For the first 16 days, the employer pays 100% of the employee's salary. From the 17th day onwards, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) compensates a portion of the employee's salary, with a cap at six times the National Insurance Scheme's basic amount (G). A doctor's note is required for absences longer than three days. In some cases, self-certification may be allowed for short-term absences.

Parental Leave

Mothers are entitled to a total of 49 weeks paid leave with 100% pay, or 59 weeks at 80% pay. Three weeks must be taken before the expected due date and six weeks after. Fathers are entitled to two weeks of paid leave in connection with the child's birth. The remaining parental leave can be shared flexibly between parents. Adoption leave provides similar benefits for adoptive parents.

Caregiver's Leave

Employees are entitled to a maximum of 10 days per year to care for a sick child under the age of 12 (15 days for care of more than two children). Single parents are entitled to up to 20 days (30 days for more than two children). The employer pays the full salary for the caregiving leave period.

Educational Leave

Employees with at least three years of employment history and two years at their current company are entitled to up to three years of leave (full or partial) for organized courses of education that are vocationally relevant. Educational leave is generally unpaid, but financial support may be available through government programs.

Other Types of Leave

Bereavement leave is often granted to close family members for short-term paid leave in the event of a death in the family. Welfare leave may be granted at the employer's discretion for personal or family-related reasons, such as moving or attending funerals. Employees are entitled to leave for mandatory military service. Public duties leave allows employees to take leave for civic commitments like jury duty or voting.

In addition to these statutory entitlements, specific collective agreements or company policies may grant employees more generous leave provisions. It's essential to check these resources for additional leave benefits.