aflønnet

Aflønnet is a Danish adjective used to describe an employee who receives a fixed salary rather than being paid by the hour. An aflønnet worker typically gets a regular monthly or annual payment, while the number of hours worked may vary. The term is commonly used in HR, payroll, and labor-law discussions to distinguish salary-based employment from hourly wage arrangements.

In practice, aflønning often applies to positions such as professionals, managers, and many roles within the public sector or certain organizations where duties and responsibilities are defined rather than the exact hours worked. Aflønnet employees may still have overtime rules or additional compensation defined by contracts or overenskomster (collective agreements), but the baseline payment is not tied to a specific hourly rate.

The opposite concept is timelønnet, meaning paid by the hour, where total earnings depend directly on the number of hours worked. Other wage structures, such as piece-rate pay, are uncommon in the context of aflønnet employment and are governed by separate agreements or contracts.

Terms and conditions for aflønnet employment—such as the level of salary, benefits, vacation, probationary periods, and notice requirements—are typically specified in the employment contract or a collective agreement. While the lump-sum nature of a salary provides predictability, it can also influence discussions about overtime, workload, and performance expectations.

Etymology: The word derives from af- (off, away) combined with løn (salary or wage), and is used primarily in Danish-language contexts.