ferieordninger

Ferieordninger are the rules and agreements that govern paid vacation for employees. They cover how much holiday employees are entitled to, how the holiday is earned, when it can be taken, and how pay during vacation is handled. In many Nordic and European countries the ferieordninger are established by national law, supplemented by collective agreements or company policies.

A typical ferieordning defines the holiday entitlement as a fixed number of paid days each year, the period during which those days can be taken (the holiday year), and rules for carrying over or compensating for unused days. The schemes often distinguish between holidays that are taken as days off with pay and holiday pay that is paid separately or alongside regular wages. How and when holiday pay is accrued and paid can vary: some systems fund holiday pay in advance into a dedicated account, while others pay as part of ordinary wages when the holiday is taken.

Scheduling of holidays is usually a joint matter between employer and employee. Employers may set mandatory holiday periods for operational reasons, while employees typically have the right to propose preferred vacation times. In many sectors, collective agreements grant additional days or provide more flexible arrangements than the statutory minimum.

Special considerations apply for part-time workers, temporary staff, new hires, and employees with varying contracts. Some ferieordninger allow more favorable terms for long-serving staff or for specific industries. Overall, ferieordninger aim to ensure employees have adequate rest while balancing organizational needs, and are administered through payroll and human resources processes. See also Ferieloven (holiday law) for country-specific rules.