Groundbreaking Court Rulings in Norway. Employees May Recover Thousands of Kroner
Part-time employees in Norway may be entitled to overtime pay from the very first extra hour worked. This follows from two rulings by Norwegian courts that were appealed in 2026. The case is significant for people working in retail, hospitality, and the healthcare sector, where part-time work is most common.
Employers disagree with the first-instance court rulings.
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The case concerns people who have worked part-time and taken on extra shifts in the past three years. This includes retail, hospitality, and the healthcare sector. Financial claims become time-barred after three years. That is why some employees are already taking their cases to court.
Employees in Norway Must Act Before Claims Expire
In two district court rulings, it was decided that overtime pay may be due from the very first additional hour, not only after exceeding full-time hours. The cases have been appealed. According to sources cited by E24, they may ultimately reach the Supreme Court.
Employees therefore face a choice. They can wait for a final decision or file a claim now. The problem is the statute of limitations. Simply submitting a claim to the employer does not stop the clock.
Employees therefore face a choice. They can wait for a final decision or file a claim now. The problem is the statute of limitations. Simply submitting a claim to the employer does not stop the clock.
If a higher court upholds the rulings, employers will be required to pay overtime compensation.Photo: Adobe Stock, standard license
Norwegian Courts Await. The Clock Is Still Ticking
Parat organization lawyer Sigurd Øyvind Kambestad told E24 that there is significant interest in these cases. Parat currently has about 20 ongoing cases, some involving several people from the same workplace. According to Kambestad, the main goal now is to file lawsuits to interrupt the statute of limitations.
Some courts have suspended the consideration of new cases due to appeals from the two earlier rulings. The work of a government task force is also important. It is preparing proposals for solutions regarding the rules for paying overtime allowances.
Some courts have suspended the consideration of new cases due to appeals from the two earlier rulings. The work of a government task force is also important. It is preparing proposals for solutions regarding the rules for paying overtime allowances.
Kambestad claims he tried to negotiate with employers to suspend the statute of limitations. According to him, employers do not want such agreements. Lawyer Geir Lippestad presents a different view, recommending that companies enter into such agreements. He emphasizes that this does not mean acknowledging the claims, but only suspending the limitation period until the legal situation is clarified. According to Lippestad, the case could have significant financial consequences, especially for municipalities and entities in the healthcare sector, where many employees work part-time.
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