Recent developments in Denmark
Employment law is always changing, and keeping up with it is a lot of work. Thankfully, our team is always working to stay abreast of the latest changes, so you don’t have to. Here are some of the newest developments in Denmark.
Social Security Rates (2024)
January 2024, the quarterly social security rate for full time employees was reduced to DKK 1,333.50 (previously DKK 1,390.25). The annual rate was reduced from DKK 5,561 to DKK 5,334.00.
Extra leave for adoptive parents (2024)
As of 1 May 2024, employees in Denmark who adopt two or more children born at the same birth are entitled to 13 weeks of additional adoption leave. This is applicable to all adoptive parents where the children are under the age of one year at the time of the adoption.
Amendments to the Danish Act on Working Time (2024)
The Danish Act on Working Time was amended on 1 July, 2024. The amendment mandates that employers establish an impartial, easily accessible system for tracking working hours. The legislation also allows collective bargaining agreements to opt out of the standard 48-hour maximum working week.
Widening of the requirement to provide employment contracts (2023)
The Danish Parliament adopted a new act on statements of employment terms (i.e. employment contracts) in May 2023. It entered into force on 1 July 2023. The new law requires employers to provide employees with a statement of employment conditions if they work (or will work) an average of three hours per week over a reference period of four consecutive weeks.
Stronger protections for victims of sexual harassment at work (2023)
A new law amending to the Danish Act on Equal Treatment between Men and Women was passed in 2023, with the goal of reducing sexual harassment in the workplace. The law clarifies employees’ responsibility for providing a harassment-free workplace and gives employees the right to compensation if they experience sexual harassment at work.
