The question · Asked in October 2026
“My company is downsizing. Explain to me what is a severance agreement from legal perspective, what will happen if I don't sign it?”
Summary of the answer
A severance agreement is an ordinary contract outside the dismissal rules, set aside only if unreasonable (avtaleloven § 36, HR-2020-2202-A). Declining keeps the job; a dismissal must then meet arbeidsmiljøloven §§ 15-4 and 15-7.
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Sources the answer used
15 sourcesLaws and regulations
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 1-9lovdata.no
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 14-2lovdata.no
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 14 A-1lovdata.no
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 15-1lovdata.no
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 15-3lovdata.no
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 15-4lovdata.no
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 15-7lovdata.no
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 15-11lovdata.no
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 15-12lovdata.no
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 17-3lovdata.no
- arbeidsmiljøloven § 17-4lovdata.no
- avtaleloven § 36lovdata.no
- folketrygdloven § 4-10lovdata.no
Preparatory works
- Prop. 85 L (2014–2015)regjeringen.no
Court decisions
- HR-2020-2202-Adomstol.no