Enkeltavtaler

Enkeltavtaler are individual employment agreements between an employer and an employee that specify the terms of employment. They typically include information such as start date, job title and duties, place of work, working hours, wages or salary, benefits, probationary period, and conditions for termination, notice, vacation, sick leave, and confidentiality. The contract can be written or, in some cases, oral, but in practice many jurisdictions require a written record of essential terms to protect both parties.

Enkeltavtaler operate alongside broader frameworks such as kollektivavtal (collective agreements) that apply to groups of employees within a company or sector. In contexts with active collective bargaining, these agreements often set minimum standards or conditions that apply to workers covered by them. An individual contract should generally align with applicable law and any relevant kollektivavtal; it should not undercut mandatory protections or the minimum standards established by the collective agreement. Terms in an enkeltavtale can supplement the collective agreement where allowed, provided they do not violate law or higher-standard provisions.

Legal considerations and practice vary by country, but many Nordic and European labor systems require certain terms to be in writing and provide statutory minimums for notice, working time, and other conditions. Employers and employees are advised to review both the enkeltavtale and any relevant kollektivavtal to ensure consistency and compliance. The use of enkeltavtaler offers flexibility to tailor terms to individual roles, while also presenting risks related to unequal bargaining power and potential gaps in protection if important rights are omitted.