Abstract
Norms applied in layoff decisions in Norway and Germany are compared. Despite similarities in legal traditions, the norms used for selecting employees for layoffs differ in several respects. In Norway there are no legal prescriptions as to selection criteria, but seniority is generally preferred by employees and to a large extent accepted by employers. The German Labor Law prescribes several criteria. Seniority is among these, but holds a less prominent place in practice. Needs (“social considerations”) on the other hand is accorded considerable weight. German “exceptionalism” in the social security legislation, due to the political turbulence during the first half of the 20th century is not a sufficient explanation, as it does not account for the legitimacy of needs criteria in the population. Explanations are sought in the bargaining systems within companies, its interplay with the social security system, and in genuine “cultural” characteristics. All of these hypotheses seem to have some explanatory power.
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Engelstad, F. Needs and social justice: The criterion of needs when exempting employees from layoff. Soc Just Res 10, 203–223 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02683313
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02683313