Employee rights for equality and inclusion in the workplace

Inclusion in the workplace is about employees feeling a sense of belonging, being respected and valued for their unique identity and expertise. Equality and inclusion are fundamental principles in the Norwegian labour market. These principles ensure that all employees are treated fairly and have equal opportunities, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation or age.

Here are some of the most important rights your employees have:

Equality and Discrimination Act

The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act aims to promote equality and prevent discrimination. The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act imposes, among other things, a duty of activity on employers to promote equality, cf. sections 24-26. The Act also prohibits discrimination in recruitment processes, employment relationships and when the employment relationship is terminated, cf. section 29.

Working Environment Act

The Norwegian Working Environment Act does not contain any provisions that specifically mention diversity and inclusion, but you can read this from several of the provisions in the Act. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that all workplaces have a safe and inclusive working environment for all employees, cf. Section 1-1. There is also section 4-1, which states that the working environment must be fully acceptable, both physically and mentally. This includes that the employer shall prevent harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, age and political views. In addition, the Working Environment Act contains provisions that ensure facilitation for employees with reduced capacity to work, cf. Section 4-6, and provisions that safeguard the employee's health, environment and safety, cf. Section 3-1.

Whistleblowing rights

Employees have the right to report unacceptable conditions in the workplace without fear of retaliation from the employer. This includes reporting discrimination, harassment and other violations of the Working Environment Act. The rules can be found in Chapter 2A of the Working Environment Act. Employers have a duty to follow up on a notification and there are requirements that the organisation must have clear guidelines.

International conventions

Norway is bound by several international conventions that regulate diversity and inclusion. The conventions require national legislation and practice to promote diversity, prevent discrimination and ensure that the rights of different groups in society are also safeguarded in the workplace. The most important conventions are the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the UN Convention on Racial Discrimination (CERD).

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Lotte Lundby Kristiansen

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