Funktionærloven, your rights as a salaried employee
Who is covered
Funktionærloven covers employees doing office, commercial, technical/clinical or supervisory work for at least 8 hours a week. If you work in administration, IT, finance, HR, sales or management, you are almost certainly a funktionær and get its protections automatically, they cannot be contracted away.
Notice periods
Employer notice rises with your tenure: 1 month in the first 6 months, 3 months after 6 months, 4 months after 3 years, 5 months after 6 years, and 6 months after 9 years. Your own notice as an employee is usually 1 month. All notice takes effect at the end of a calendar month. See notice periods for detail.
Sick pay, severance and protection
You get full pay during sick leave from day one. Statutory severance (fratrædelsesgodtgørelse) is 1 month's salary after 12 years with the same employer, and 3 months's after 17 years. After one year, dismissal must be objectively justified (sagligt begrundet), Denmark is not an at-will system.
Probation and contracts
A probation period (max 3 months, 14 days' notice) only applies if written into your contract, see probation periods. Always check whether your employment contract references Funktionærloven or a collective agreement, both can improve on the legal minimum.
Common questions
Who does Funktionaerloven cover?
Salaried employees doing office, commercial, technical or supervisory work at least 8 hours a week, most white-collar staff.
What notice am I entitled to under Funktionaerloven?
Employer notice ranges from 1 month (first 6 months) up to 6 months (after 9 years); it always takes effect at month-end.
Is there severance under Funktionaerloven?
Yes, 1 month's salary after 12 years and 3 months' after 17 years with the same employer.