övertidsavtalet

Övertidsavtalet is a sectoral or company-level agreement in Sweden that governs overtime work. It is part of the collective bargaining system and is not a stand-alone law. The agreement sets the rules for when overtime may be required, how overtime is compensated, and how it is scheduled, with the aim of balancing work needs with employees’ health and rest.

Common provisions in övertidsavtalet cover definitions of overtime (hours worked beyond ordinary full-time hours), the methods of compensation (overtime pay at a premium rate or time off in lieu), and procedures for requesting and approving overtime. Agreements often specify notification requirements, limits on how often overtime can be demanded, and conditions for emergency or temporary overtime. They also address rest periods and the handling of weekend or night overtime, in line with health and safety considerations.

The övertidsavtalet applies to employees covered by the signatory collective agreements and is binding on both employers and unions within the sector or company. Its exact terms vary between industries and individual agreements, reflecting sector-specific needs. The framework complements Swedish labor law, including the Working Hours Act, and aims to provide predictable rules for overtime while protecting workers from excessive hours. Disputes related to overtime are typically resolved through the parties to the agreement, with possible involvement of arbetsgivar- eller fackliga förhandlingar or, where necessary, national or legal channels.