Employee rights and obligations
Perform your work well and follow your employer’s advice and instructions. You and your employer both have rights, as well as obligations.
On this page, you’ll find answers to questions such as:
As an employee, you have the right to, among other things, wages in accordance with the collective agreement of the industry, as well as other terms of employment in accordance with the law and agreements. Read more.
As an employee, you are obliged, among other things, to exercise care and caution in your work. Read more.
Confidentiality means that you must not pass on any secret information relating to your employer’s business that could cause financial harm to your employer if disclosed. Read more.
If you make a mistake at work, fail to do something, or otherwise violate workplace rules, your employer call you in for a discussion or give you a warning. Read more.
Employers have the main responsibility for workplace safety, and as an employee, you must follow the safety instructions provided by your employer. If you notice any deficiencies in workplace safety, report them to your employer. Read more.
Employee rights
As an employee, you have the right to, among other things:
- wages in accordance with the collective agreement
- the minimum terms and conditions based on the collective agreement and the law (for example, holidays, sick pay, family leave and the terms and conditions of dismissal)
- working hours according to law and agreements
- trade union membership
- a healthy and safe working environment
- occupational health care
- a written employment contract
- equal treatment in the workplace.
We’ll explain these rights in more detail on the other pages in this chapter.
Obligations of employees
As an employee, you are obliged to follow these guidelines, among others:
- Work at a good pace, but carefully; try to be quick, but don’t be careless.
- Treat everyone you meet at work with respect and courtesy.
- Follow your working hours; don’t be late. Only leave work when your working hours are done. You cannot go home without permission, even if you get the work done before your working hours end.
- Tell your employer if you notice any issues that increase the risks at work, such as broken tools or missing protective equipment.
Don’t share your employer’s confidential information with others
You must not disclose business and trade secrets to others. This means that you must not pass on any confidential information relating to your employer’s business that could cause financial harm to your employer if disclosed. If you don’t know which information is confidential, ask your employer.
However, if you suspect that your employer is acting unlawfully or otherwise improperly, you can talk about it with the shop steward or union representative.
Do not work for another company during your employment if it interferes with your employer’s business
You are subject to a ban on competing activities. This means that during your employment relationship, you must not work for a competing company if it causes harm to your employer.
If you have a zero-hour employment contract and your employer doesn’t give you enough hours, you have the right to have more than one job.
If you make mistakes or break the rules, your employer call you in for a discussion or give you a warning
If you make a mistake at work, leave a task uncompleted, or otherwise break the rules of your workplace, your employer may give you a warning verbally or in writing. This means that your employer tells you what you have done wrong and what you should have done instead. If you do not understand what mistake you have made, ask your supervisor to explain the matter in more detail.
If you have neglected your tasks, your employer may give you a warning. Such neglect may be, for example, if you have failed to comply with your working hours. Warnings are often given in writing, and the employer will ask you to sign the written warning. It is important that you understand the reason for the warning, and what you did wrong. If you feel that the warning is unnecessary, you can contest it. If necessary, you can seek advice from your shop steward, union representative or your trade union.
If you repeatedly fail to comply with your employer’s instructions and receive several warnings, they may have the right to terminate your employment. If a mistake is serious, your employer can terminate your employment due to that single mistake. If this happens to you and you think your employer has acted incorrectly, ask your shop steward, union representative or trade union for advice.
Work carefully and safely
The employer has the main responsibility for workplace safety, but employees also have safety obligations. Follow the safety instructions provided by your employer. Wear clothing that does not pose an accident risk and use the protective equipment and devices required for your work. Also take care of the orderliness and cleanliness of your workplace. Treat other employees respectfully and do not subject them to harassment.
If you notice any defects in the conditions, structures, machines, equipment, or protective equipment at your workplace, report them to your employer. Report deficiencies even if there was no accident, as near misses are valuable information and can be used to make changes before accidents happen.
If a task causes serious danger to your life or your health, or the life or health of other employees, you have the right to refuse to perform that task. However, you must first inform your employer that you are abstaining from work. It’s also good to inform the safety representative at the workplace.
Your employer has the right to manage and supervise your work
Your employer has the right to manage and direct your work. The right to direct refers to the statutory right of employers to supervise and direct work.
The employer’s interpretation of legislation also takes precedence. This means that your employer can temporarily interpret what something in labour law, a collective agreement, or an employment contract means in the workplace.