General employment terms and conditions
When you hire staff you must respect the minimum requirements set by EU employment law about the terms of employment for staff, and changes to work contracts.
As an employer, you need to know the minimum EU standards for working hours and rest, breaks, and night work. Derogations from some of the working time obligations are possible if allowed by national law.
In addition to basic annual leave entitlements, EU rules on work-life balance rights establish minimum standards for paternity, parental and carers’ leave, collectively called family leave. These rules also include additional rights, such as the right to request flexible working arrangements and the right to time off work on the grounds of force majeure.
When you lay off or dismiss staff you also have specific obligations to respect. As an employer, you should be aware of EU rules that apply to collective redundancies, employee rights during business takeovers, ending fixed-term and short-term contracts, ensuring non-discrimination in dismissals, and maintaining data protection standards during termination.
Warning
Some EU countries may provide higher levels of protection for workers. To ensure you fully understand your obligations as an employer please check with the national employment authority in your country.