How to average working time in Norway?

March 10, 2025

⚖️ Remember! This article provides a summary of information. Detailed regulations can be found on the website of the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) and in the Working Environment Act.

📅 Standard Working Time in Norway

The standard working time in Norway is 40 hours per week. However, in practice, many employment contracts specify 37.5 hours per week. Why the difference?

✅ Lunch breaks are usually unpaid and last mostly 30 minutes per day:

0.5 h × 5 days = 2.5 h
40 h – 2.5 h = 37.5 h

🤔 Why Is Working Time Averaged?

Averaging working time allows companies to flexibly plan employees' schedules, especially in shift or rotational systems. This enables an employee to work more hours in one week and then take time off later as part of avspasering (time off in lieu of overtime).

Averaged working time is especially useful in:

Seasonal work (e.g., construction, agriculture)
Shift and rotational systems (e.g., oil industry, logistics)
Projects with fluctuating workloads (e.g., IT, design)

📌 Averaging Working Time in Norway – Key Rules

Averaging must comply with the Norwegian Working Environment Act.
Settlement periods are strictly regulated by law.
Employee health and safety is a priority – work schedules must not endanger workers' well-being.

✅ 3 Ways to Average Working Time in Norway

1. Appendix to the Employment Contract

An employer and employee can sign a written agreement to average working time for up to 52 weeks.

Maximum 10 hours per day
Maximum 50 hours per week (for settlement periods up to 8 weeks)
Maximum 48 hours per week (for settlement periods longer than 8 weeks)

Example:
Week 1: 50 h
Week 2: 50 h
Week 3: 50 h
Week 4: 50 h
Week 5: 50 h
Week 6: 50 h
Week 7: Rest
Week 8: Rest

Total: 300 hours over 8 weeks → average of 37.5 h per week.

2. Agreement with Union Representatives (for companies with collective agreements)

Maximum 12.5 hours per day
Maximum 54 hours per week

3. Permission from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet)

For more flexible schedules, special permission can be obtained:

Maximum 13 hours per day
Average of 48 hours per week over 8 weeks or up to 26 weeks with the same average.

⚠️ Safety First!

When planning work schedules, employers must ensure the health and safety of their employees. Working hours should not cause excessive fatigue or create hazardous conditions.

⏰ Are Overtime Hours Possible with Averaged Working Time?

Overtime is only counted after exceeding the average limit set for the settlement period.
If an employee works more hours over a short period but stays within the average limit over the entire settlement period, no overtime is recorded.

💤 Daily and Weekly Rest – Mandatory Breaks

Even with averaged working hours, regulations on breaks and rest periods apply:

Minimum 11 hours of rest per day
Minimum 35 consecutive hours of rest per week

(Exceptions are possible in specific cases but require approval from the Labour Inspection Authority or a collective agreement.)

💸 What Are the Consequences of Violating Averaged Working Time Rules?

Failure to comply with regulations on working time averaging can have serious consequences for both the employer and the employee:

Financial penalties imposed by Arbeidstilsynet
The possibility for employees or trade unions to report violations
The risk of compensation claims in case of accidents caused by employee overwork

🗣️ Key Terms Related to Working Time in Norway

Anna Korpalska

Illustration: Canva

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Averaging Working Time in Norway for Beginners