Notice period for termination

The term of notice for indefinite employment contracts are as follows:

In the first three months on the job (trial period), 1 week.
In the fourth to sixth month on the job, 1 month, termination must be rendered at the turn-of-the-month.
After six months on the job, 3 months, termination must be rendered at the turn-of-the-month.

After consecutive 10 years of work in the same company, an employee obtains by:

the age of 55 – 4 months’ notice, termination must be at the end of the month.
the age of 60 – 5 months’ notice, termination must be at the end of the month.
the age of 63 – 6 months’ notice, termination must be at the end of the month.

The employer must pay earned, unpaid vacation pay, this is most often done at the end of the notice period. The employer must also pay vacation- and December bonuses according to work period and work percentage during the year. This is commonly done at the same time as other wages are settled or at the time when bonuses are normally paid out – but can vary between collective wage agreements.

Termination
Employees who have earned four to six months’ term of notice according to collective wage agreements can resign from their work with a three months’ notice, otherwise the term of notice is mutual.

In the case of termination, rules apply to the implementation and duration of the termination period, which both parties must respect. As a general rule, employers and employees are equally authorized to cancel employment contracts without stating the reason for this. This, however, does not apply in the case of certain groups or events where the protection of termination is specified by law, see more about limitations on termination.

Right to an interview about termination of employment
Employees have a right to an interview on their termination of employment and reason for such termination. Requests for an interview must be submitted within four days from the date that the termination notice is received, and the interview must take place within four days from such request. Employees may request, on the conclusion of such interview, or within four days, that the reasons of the termination be provided in writing. If the employer acquiesces to such request, the request shall be fulfilled within four days thereafter.

If the employer does not accede to the request of the employee as regards written reasoning, the employee is entitled, within four days, to another meeting with the employer as regards the reason for the termination of employment in the presence of his trade union representative or other representative of his trade union if the employee so requests.

Writing a letter of resignation

It is important for an employee to resign from his work in the correct manner. A letter of resignation must include specific information and dates must be correct.

Example: An employee who has three months’ notice resigns on 31 March 2008. He bases the termination of employment, or the last day of work, on 30 June 2008.

It is also important that the employee retain a copy of the letter of resignation. It is advisable, therefore, to print out the letter in duplicate and have the employer sign for reception of the letter on the copy which the employee retains.

See an example