The Norwegian government has proposed stricter sick leave rules, including a duty for sick-listed employees to temporarily perform other work. 6% at the end of last year. According to the government, the proposal was sent for consultation in December 2024 and had received over 140 responses by March 15, 2025.
NHO, the main employers' organisation, is positive about the duty to perform other work, while trade unions such as LO have warned against it. The government also proposes changes to the GP's role as sick-lister and to adjust rate systems. The Norwegian Medical Association has put forward an alternative: increase self-certified sick days to around 30 days per year, freely disposable, and make employers responsible for contact during the first 16 days.
One wants to facilitate that the employer is rather at work, than being passive at home.
According to NAV, current self-certification rules allow up to three days at a time, four times a year. Minister of Labour and Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng said the government wants to reduce sickness absence, which is far too high, and believes everyone must do more. NHO's Nina Melsom argued that facilitating work rather than being passive at home reduces the risk of permanent exit from work.
The Medical Association's Anne-Karin Rime said dialogue between employer and employee is often more appropriate than a GP visit for transient complaints. According to NRK, teacher Eirin Rolvsjod described being given other work tasks as challenging, requiring energy to familiarise with new people and tasks.
We know that the longer the employee is away from work, the greater the risk that the employee permanently falls out of work.
In this period, the manager and employee should talk about work ability and possibility of being in work. Much is about short absences that pass quickly.
For transient pain and other short-term complaints, a dialogue between employer and employee is often more appropriate than a visit to the GP.