Employment law by country
How does employment law generally work in each country, and where do you confirm the specifics? Each page explains the widely-recognised concepts for a jurisdiction or topic — at a general, educational level — names the official government authority to check current rules, and connects to the related documents, occupations and country guides. General information only — not legal advice.
What this cluster covers
- General employment-law concepts by country: how the framework is broadly structured.
- Core topics: contracts, probation, working time, termination, rights and obligations.
- The official government authority or labour inspectorate to confirm current rules.
- A clear statement of the jurisdiction on every page.
- No statutory figures, notice periods, salary data, case law or fabricated statistics.
Browse all 98 pages
Countries A–G
How employment law generally works — selected jurisdictions.
Employment Law in the United States
Employment law in the United States is shaped by a combination of federal statutes, state and local laws, and the terms agreed between employers and employees, with significant variation from one state to another.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Canada
Employment law in Canada is divided between federal jurisdiction for certain industries and the laws of each province and territory, which govern most workplaces and set their own employment standards.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in the United Kingdom
Employment law in the United Kingdom comes mainly from statute and case law, setting out minimum rights for workers and employees while leaving room for contracts and workplace policies to add further detail.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Ireland
Employment law in Ireland is set mainly through statute and supported by official guidance, giving employees a range of minimum rights while contracts and workplace policies fill in the detail.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Germany
Employment law in Germany draws on statute, collective agreements and works-council arrangements, giving employees strong protections while the written contract sets out the individual terms.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Austria
Employment law in Austria combines statute with widely applied collective agreements, giving employees broad protections while individual contracts set out the terms for each role.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Switzerland
Employment law in Switzerland is rooted in federal law, supplemented by cantonal rules and, in some sectors, collective agreements, with the individual contract setting out the terms for each role.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in the Netherlands
Employment law in the Netherlands combines statute with collective labour agreements and a strong emphasis on fair procedure, with the individual contract setting out the terms for each role.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Belgium
Employment law in Belgium combines statute with collective bargaining at several levels, giving employees broad protections while individual contracts set out the terms for each role.
OpenCountries F–R
How employment law generally works — selected jurisdictions.
Employment Law in France
Employment law in France is built on a detailed Labour Code, supplemented by collective agreements and case law, and gives the employment relationship a strong protective framework for both employers and employees.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Spain
Employment law in Spain is anchored in the Workers’ Statute and a broad framework of regulations and collective agreements that set out the rights and duties of employers and employees.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Italy
Employment law in Italy draws on the Civil Code, dedicated labour statutes and an extensive system of national collective agreements that together define how the employment relationship operates.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Portugal
Employment law in Portugal is consolidated mainly in the Labour Code, supported by collective agreements, and provides a structured framework of rights and duties for employers and employees.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in the Czech Republic
Employment law in the Czech Republic is set out chiefly in the Labour Code, which provides a structured framework governing how the employment relationship is formed, conducted and ended.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Poland
Employment law in Poland is grounded in the Labour Code, which sets out the rights and obligations of employers and employees and shapes how the employment relationship is created and ended.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Slovakia
Employment law in Slovakia is set out mainly in the Labour Code, which defines the rights and obligations of employers and employees and governs how the employment relationship is formed and ended.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Hungary
Employment law in Hungary is set out mainly in the Labour Code, which establishes the framework of rights and obligations shaping how the employment relationship is created and ended.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Romania
Employment law in Romania is consolidated mainly in the Labour Code, which sets out the rights and obligations of employers and employees and governs how the employment relationship is formed and ended.
OpenCountries D–S
How employment law generally works — selected jurisdictions.
Employment Law in Denmark
Employment in Denmark is shaped by a mix of statute and a strong tradition of collective agreements between employers and unions, with the balance often described as the Danish labour-market model.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Sweden
Employment in Sweden combines statutory protection with a strong role for collective agreements, so the rules for a given job often depend on both the law and the agreement covering the workplace.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Norway
Employment in Norway is built on a statutory framework covering the working environment and the employment relationship, complemented by collective agreements in many sectors.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Finland
Employment in Finland is based on statutory rules covering the employment contract and working conditions, with collective agreements playing a significant role across many sectors.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Australia
Employment in Australia is shaped by a national workplace-relations framework, including minimum standards and industry awards, alongside the individual contract between employer and employee.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in New Zealand
Employment in New Zealand is built around a written employment agreement and a framework of statutory minimum entitlements that apply to employees alongside the terms each agreement records.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in the United Arab Emirates
Employment in the United Arab Emirates is regulated through a labour framework administered by the relevant authorities, with distinct arrangements applying in certain free zones.
Open Employment lawEmployment Law in Singapore
Employment in Singapore is governed by a statutory framework that sets out core terms and protections, with the written contract recording the specific arrangements agreed for each role.
OpenTopics & concepts
Jurisdiction-neutral employment-law concepts.
Employment Contracts
An employment contract is the agreement that sets out the terms of the working relationship between an employer and an employee, including the work to be done and the main conditions that apply.
Open Employment lawProbation Periods
A probation period is an initial phase of employment during which the employer and the new employee assess whether the role and the working relationship are a good fit.
Open Employment lawWorking Hours
Working hours describe the time an employee spends performing their job, including how the schedule is arranged and the limits and rest that apply around it.
Open Employment lawOvertime
Overtime refers to work performed beyond an employee’s standard hours, along with the rules and arrangements that govern how that extra time is requested, recorded and recognised.
Open Employment lawTermination of Employment
Termination of employment is the ending of the working relationship between an employer and an employee, which can happen in several ways and is shaped by the contract and the applicable law.
Open Employment lawDismissal
Dismissal is the ending of employment by the employer, a situation many jurisdictions surround with rules on fairness, reasons and process to protect both sides.
Open Employment lawEmployee Rights
Employee rights are the protections and entitlements that apply to people in employment, forming a baseline that the contract and workplace practice build upon.
Open Employment lawEmployer Obligations
Employer obligations are the duties an employer owes towards its workforce, covering how people are engaged, treated, paid and kept safe within the bounds of the law.
Open Employment lawLeave Entitlements
Leave entitlements are the forms of time off that employees may be able to take, including holiday, sickness, family and other recognised reasons for being away from work.
Open Employment lawPublic Holidays
Public holidays are officially recognised non-working days that affect how and when work takes place, with the specific days and arrangements differing from one country to another.
Open Employment lawRemote Work
Remote work is an arrangement where some or all of an employee’s duties are carried out away from a central workplace, supported by clear expectations and the right tools.
Open Employment lawAgency Work
Agency work is an arrangement where a worker is engaged through a staffing agency and assigned to carry out work for a separate hiring organisation.
Open Employment lawTemporary Work
Temporary work covers roles intended to last for a limited time or a specific task, often used to meet short-term needs while still giving the worker defined terms.
Open Employment lawCollective Agreements
A collective agreement is a negotiated set of terms covering a group of workers, usually agreed between employers or their representatives and worker representatives.
Open Employment lawNon-Compete Clauses
A non-compete clause is a contractual restriction that limits what an employee can do after leaving, often aimed at protecting an employer’s legitimate business interests.
Open Employment lawWorkplace Safety
Workplace safety is about keeping people healthy and free from harm at work, through sensible precautions, clear responsibilities and a shared culture of care.
Open Employment lawEqual Opportunity
Equal opportunity is the principle that people should have fair access to work and fair treatment within it, based on merit rather than irrelevant personal characteristics.
Open Employment lawAnti-Discrimination
Anti-discrimination is about protecting people from unfair treatment at work based on characteristics that should not affect employment decisions.
OpenCzech Republic — topics
Employment-law topics in the Czech Republic.
Working Hours in the Czech Republic
This page gives a general, evergreen overview of how working hours are treated in the Czech Republic, written for employers and employees who want orientation before checking the current rules with the official authority.
Open Employment lawOvertime in the Czech Republic
This page offers a general, evergreen overview of how overtime is approached in the Czech Republic, intended to orient employers and employees before they confirm the current detail with the official authority.
Open Employment lawProbationary Periods in the Czech Republic
This page gives a general, evergreen overview of how probationary periods are understood in the Czech Republic, helping employers and employees orient themselves before confirming the current rules with the official authority.
Open Employment lawEnding Employment in the Czech Republic
This page provides a general, evergreen overview of how an employment relationship can come to an end in the Czech Republic, orienting employers and employees before they confirm the detail with the official authority.
Open Employment lawAnnual Leave in the Czech Republic
This page gives a general, evergreen overview of how annual leave is treated in the Czech Republic, written to orient employers and employees before they confirm the current entitlement and rules with the official authority.
Open Employment lawSick Leave in the Czech Republic
This page provides a general, evergreen overview of how sick leave is approached in the Czech Republic, helping employers and employees orient themselves before confirming the current procedures with the official authority.
Open Employment lawAgency Work in the Czech Republic
This page gives a general, evergreen overview of how agency work is understood in the Czech Republic, written for employers and workers who want orientation before confirming the current rules with the official authority.
Open Employment lawTemporary Work in the Czech Republic
This page offers a general, evergreen overview of how temporary work is treated in the Czech Republic, intended to orient employers and workers before they confirm the current detail with the official authority.
Open Employment lawEmployment Contracts in the Czech Republic
This page gives a general, evergreen overview of how employment contracts are understood in the Czech Republic, helping employers and employees orient themselves before confirming the current requirements with the official authority.
Open Employment lawEmployee Rights in the Czech Republic
This page provides a general, evergreen overview of how employee rights are framed in the Czech Republic, orienting employees and employers before they confirm the current detail with the official authority.
Open Employment lawEmployer Obligations in the Czech Republic
This page gives a general, evergreen overview of how employer obligations are framed in the Czech Republic, helping employers orient themselves before confirming the current requirements with the official authority.
Open Employment lawWorkplace Safety in the Czech Republic
This page provides a general, evergreen overview of how workplace safety is approached in the Czech Republic, written to orient employers and employees before they confirm the current requirements with the official authority.
OpenGermany — topics
Employment-law topics in Germany.
Working Hours in Germany
Working time in Germany is shaped by general principles around the length of the working day, rest and record-keeping.
Open Employment lawOvertime in Germany
Overtime in Germany concerns hours worked beyond the agreed working time, and how those hours are arranged, recorded and compensated.
Open Employment lawProbation Periods in Germany
A probation period in Germany is an early phase of employment used to assess fit on both sides.
Open Employment lawEnding Employment in Germany
Ending employment in Germany involves notice, process and protections that apply when a working relationship comes to an end.
Open Employment lawAnnual Leave in Germany
Annual leave in Germany concerns paid time off that employees can take during the year, and how it accrues, is scheduled and is carried forward.
Open Employment lawSick Leave in Germany
Sick leave in Germany concerns absence from work due to illness, including how it is notified, evidenced and managed.
Open Employment lawAgency Work in Germany
Agency work in Germany involves staff engaged through a staffing agency and assigned to work at a client business.
Open Employment lawTemporary Work in Germany
Temporary work in Germany covers engagements that are time-limited, such as fixed-term contracts and short-term assignments.
Open Employment lawEmployment Contracts in Germany
An employment contract in Germany sets out the terms of the working relationship between employer and employee.
Open Employment lawEmployee Rights in Germany
Employee rights in Germany cover the core protections that apply to people at work, from fair treatment to safe conditions.
Open Employment lawEmployer Obligations in Germany
Employer obligations in Germany cover the duties a business carries towards its employees and the authorities.
Open Employment lawWorkplace Safety in Germany
Workplace safety in Germany covers the duties and practices that protect people from harm at work.
OpenPoland, Slovakia, Hungary
Selected employment-law topics.
Employment Contracts in Poland
This is a plain-language overview of how employment contracts work in Poland at a general level, written for employers and workers who want to understand the topic before checking the current detail with official sources.
Open Employment lawWorking Hours in Poland
This page explains, at a general level, how working time is approached in Poland, so employers and workers can grasp the topic before checking current limits and rules through official sources.
Open Employment lawEnding Employment in Poland
This page gives a general view of how employment relationships can come to an end in Poland, intended to help employers and workers understand the topic before confirming the exact process through official sources.
Open Employment lawAgency Work in Poland
This page explains agency work in Poland at a general level.
Open Employment lawTemporary Work in Poland
This page outlines temporary work in Poland at a general level.
Open Employment lawEmployment Contracts in Slovakia
This is a plain-language overview of how employment contracts work in Slovakia at a general level, for employers and workers who want the broad picture before confirming current detail through official sources.
Open Employment lawWorking Hours in Slovakia
This page explains, at a general level, how working time is approached in Slovakia, helping employers and workers understand the topic before checking current limits and rules through official sources.
Open Employment lawEnding Employment in Slovakia
This page gives a general view of how employment relationships can end in Slovakia, to help employers and workers understand the topic before confirming the exact process through official sources.
Open Employment lawAgency Work in Slovakia
This page explains agency work in Slovakia at a general level.
Open Employment lawTemporary Work in Slovakia
This page outlines temporary work in Slovakia at a general level.
Open Employment lawEmployment Contracts in Hungary
This is a plain-language overview of how employment contracts work in Hungary at a general level, for employers and workers who want the broad picture before confirming current detail through official sources.
Open Employment lawWorking Hours in Hungary
This page explains, at a general level, how working time is approached in Hungary, helping employers and workers understand the topic before checking current limits and rules through official sources.
Open Employment lawEnding Employment in Hungary
This page gives a general view of how employment relationships can end in Hungary, to help employers and workers understand the topic before confirming the exact process through official sources.
Open Employment lawAgency Work in Hungary
This page explains agency work in Hungary at a general level.
Open Employment lawTemporary Work in Hungary
This page outlines temporary work in Hungary at a general level.
OpenRomania, Austria, Netherlands
Selected employment-law topics.
Employment Contracts in Romania
This is a general, evergreen overview of how employment contracts work in Romania.
Open Employment lawWorking Hours in Romania
This is a general, evergreen overview of how working time is approached in Romania.
Open Employment lawEnding Employment in Romania
This is a general, evergreen overview of how employment relationships end in Romania.
Open Employment lawAgency Work in Romania
This is a general, evergreen overview of how agency work is approached in Romania.
Open Employment lawTemporary Work in Romania
This is a general, evergreen overview of how temporary and fixed-term work is approached in Romania.
Open Employment lawEmployment Contracts in Austria
This is a general, evergreen overview of how employment contracts work in Austria.
Open Employment lawWorking Hours in Austria
This is a general, evergreen overview of how working time is approached in Austria.
Open Employment lawEnding Employment in Austria
This is a general, evergreen overview of how employment relationships end in Austria.
Open Employment lawAgency Work in Austria
This is a general, evergreen overview of how agency work is approached in Austria.
Open Employment lawTemporary Work in Austria
This is a general, evergreen overview of how temporary and fixed-term work is approached in Austria.
Open Employment lawEmployment Contracts in the Netherlands
This is a general, evergreen overview of how employment contracts work in the Netherlands.
Open Employment lawWorking Hours in the Netherlands
This is a general, evergreen overview of how working time is approached in the Netherlands.
Open Employment lawEnding Employment in the Netherlands
This is a general, evergreen overview of how employment relationships end in the Netherlands.
Open Employment lawAgency Work in the Netherlands
This is a general, evergreen overview of how agency work is approached in the Netherlands.
Open Employment lawTemporary Work in the Netherlands
This is a general, evergreen overview of how temporary and fixed-term work is approached in the Netherlands.
OpenConnected across the knowledge graph
This topic connects to occupations, documents, hiring guides, career guides, country guides and employment law across the knowledge graph.
Hr Manager
Role overview, responsibilities, skills and recruitment.
Open DocumentEmployment Contract
Purpose, required elements and common mistakes.
Open DocumentTermination Letter
Purpose, required elements and common mistakes.
Open Country guideWorking in Germany
How work and hiring generally function there.
Open Country guideWorking in France
How work and hiring generally function there.
Open Country guideWorking in United Kingdom
How work and hiring generally function there.
OpenExplore the employment knowledge graph
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The master map of every employment cluster.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this legal advice?
No. This is general, educational information about widely-recognised employment-law concepts — not legal, employment-law, immigration, tax or payroll advice, and not an interpretation of any specific law. Always confirm current requirements with the official authority and a qualified professional.
Why does it not list specific rules or numbers?
Employment law varies by jurisdiction, sector and contract and changes frequently. Rather than publish figures that may be wrong or out of date, we explain the concepts and name the official government authority where you can confirm the current position.
Which countries are covered?
A range of jurisdictions across Europe and beyond — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and many others — each with a general overview and the official authority to consult.
Who is this for?
Employers and candidates who want to understand how employment generally works in a country or what a topic means, before confirming the specifics with an official source or professional.
How is this kept accurate?
By covering only widely-recognised, evergreen concepts, citing official government and regulatory sources, and avoiding statutory figures, salary data, case law and fabricated statistics that would date quickly or mislead.