Arbeids(retts)lunsj episode 50 – World Cup Special: Football fever, force majeure, and "bønda fra nord" in employment law

Norway has beaten Brazil, the quarter-final against England awaits, and the whole country is boiling with football fever! But what actually happens to the Working Environment Act when the entire nation is rowing, partying, and traveling to the World Cup?

In this brand-new special episode of Employment Law Lunch (Arbeids(retts)lunsj), Lill Egeland is joined by partner and colleague Nicolay Skarning straight from his living room back home in Norway. Together, they tackle the employment law analysis of this summer's absolute biggest talking point: the Football World Cup.

Lill and Nicolay combine immense football enthusiasm with a burning passion for law, guiding you through the most curious issues arising in the wake of the tournament.

In this special episode, you will get answers to:

• Players and coaches on temporary contracts? How the sports-specific rules in section 14-9 of the Working Environment Act allow for temporary employment due to the "requirement for renewal."
• "If your job is to row": A tribute to the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority's viral LinkedIn post. Does the Ship Labour Act or the Working Environment Act apply to supporters rowing on land?
• "Bønda fra nord" (The farmers from the north): What do the collective agreement extensions and minimum wage have to do with agriculture?
• The "day after" problem: Is it a valid absence if the match is played at 2:00 AM? Can you demand time off for "football fever" or a poor psychosocial work environment after a bitter defeat?
• The Ultimate Act of God: Would a historic Norwegian World Cup gold legally qualify as force majeure if absolutely nobody shows up for work the next day?

They also discuss the vacation puzzle facing HR departments as thousands of Norwegians pack their bags for the USA, and why employers should go the extra mile to accommodate the World Cup dream for the sake of a great work environment.

Grab your football, or listen to the episode on your way to the next supporter party. Have a great trip, and heia Norge!

Disclaimer: This episode is machine translated from the transcript of the Norwegian episode of Arbeids(retts)lunsj. The voices are generated using AI-tools.

Som alltid er episoden godt egnet for å ta seg med på tur.