Career & legal advice
Promotion checklist: Here's what you need to know
You are probably both happy and proud when you have worked your way up to a promotion. However, at IDA we recommend that you also pause before accepting the new role. That way you will get the best conditions and clear framework for your changed position.
Here is a checklist of things you need to keep in mind:
Salary
It is important that you renegotiate your salary before you start your new position, as it will be much more difficult to negotiate at a later time.
This could be, for example, a fixed salary (jobløn) for a management position, a bonus or other forms of salary supplements. Use IDA's salary calculator to see what others in the same position receive in salary. You can select up to 11 variables, such as job type, education and seniority, when calculating your gross salary.
Working hours
A promotion, for example to a management position, often means that you have to work more hours. If you are also moving from a position with the right to overtime pay to a position with a fixed salary, this should be included in your discussions with your employer.
Aligning expectations about job requirements and an appropriate salary level can be crucial for a successful outcome.
Read about the rules for working hours
Title, job description and areas of responsibility
Maybe you don't care about titles, but more about what you do. But the right title is important for your ability to act and your mandate both internally in the company and externally - In relation to partners, suppliers and customers.
Your title should reflect both the position and the level you are at in the company's hierarchy.
Along with the title and job description, it is also a good idea to discuss and align expectations for your areas of responsibility and the scope of your responsibility. This applies, for example, to the type of management responsibility: Will you have personnel responsibility, professional responsibility, or are you an informal leader?
Even if you agree on these things before you start work, it makes sense to also discuss them on an ongoing basis during your employment.
New contract
It may be wise to get a new contract in place when you get promoted.
Depending on the changes, an addendum to your existing contract may be sufficient. Please contact us at IDA for help in assessing whether you need a new contract or just an addendum.
Log in and write to IDA about your contract
If you are currently covered by a collective agreement, but you are to switch to an individual contract in connection with the promotion, you must be particularly careful. You are waiving some terms stipulated in the collective agreement, so you can instead include these in the negotiation of terms in the new position.
Checklist for your employment contract
Further training and continuing education
Perhaps you anticipate that you will lack some professional qualifications to be able to fill the new position. This could be, for example, management training, specific professional training, budget management etc.
Course fees and time off for further training may be included as part of the overall salary package.
Special points of attention for public employees
As a public sector employee, you should be aware that a promotion to become a special or chief consultant may affect your working hours and salary, as well as who will negotiate on your behalf.
In addition, you may also be required to sign a management salary agreement, which may affect your notice of termination.
We recommend that you contact IDA for an assessment of the employment law consequences of a promotion.