Log in
Search
Taken from the column Ask the lawyers / Professional traffic issue 3 in 2026
Question:
I am employed as a truck driver in a 100% position in a small company. Recently, there has been little work, and my employer has therefore asked me to go home earlier or not to come to work on certain days. In recent weeks, I have therefore only worked about 50% of my normal working hours.
Am I only entitled to salary for the hours I actually worked, or am I still entitled to full salary according to my employment contract?
Answer:
The starting point is that you are entitled to full pay according to your employment contract. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that there is enough work for the employees. If there is a lack of work assignments, this does not exempt the employer from the obligation to pay wages.
As long as your employment contract is valid and you are available for work, you are entitled to salary according to the contract. If the lack of work continues over time, the employer can use legal arrangements such as layoffs or downsizing. Until this is implemented properly, you are entitled to full salary.
It is important to be aware that you still have an obligation to make your workforce available to your employer. You should therefore be careful to document that you have been available for work throughout the entire period, even if you have not been assigned work tasks.
We recommend that you:
- Contact us again if the employer still does not pay wages in accordance with the agreement.
- Send written messages continuously confirming that you are available for work during working hours and ready to report to work.
- Send a written request to your employer if you are paid a lower salary than what is stipulated in the employment contract, and request that this be corrected.