1. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
JOB TUESDAY – THE DANISH LABOUR
MARKET & SALARY NEGOTIATIONS
pRÆSEN
TATION 1

2. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
THE DANISH LABOUR MARKET &
SALARY NEGOTIATIONS
› Claus Palle
› Legal Adviser, AU TTO (Technology Transfer Office)
› Master of Law, masters thesis on Intellectual Property Rights of the employed.
› Total of five years at Ministry of Employment (at ”Arbejdsdirektoratet”),
› One year at unemployment fund.
› Seven years at AU TTO.
› Union representative for four years, joint union representative for almost one year.
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3. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
THE DANISH LABOUR MARKET IN
OVERVIEW – THREE PARTY MODEL
Danish State
Municipalities/Jobcenters
Unions Employers' associations* 3

4. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
UNIMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM
Danish State
Unemployment fund Unemployed
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5. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
› Basic conditions: You have to live in DK before starting your
education, have working permit/green card and have
minimum 18 months of education, while being less than 63
years old , available for work.
› To do after graduation: 14 day deadline for applying for
membership of unemployment fund. You must sign in at the
municipal job centre (jobnet.dk) no later than 14 days after
having graduated. Then you can get the benefit.
› If you have been student member (free) in a year before
graduation, you can get from benefits day one. Graduate
rate of 14.235 DKK. If you can document 320 hours of work in
6 months you can get more. Signing in when finishing your
bachelor could be beneficial.
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6. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, CONTINUED
› Alternative: (also for re-qualifiying after spending two years
of benefits) Is one year (1924 hours) of unsupported work
while being a member of an unemployment fund, before
you can receive unemployment benefits (again).
› Special rules for self-employed.
› Ph.D.**
› Links:
› www.aak.dk/in-english
› www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/frontpage.htm
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7. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET JOB TUESDAY 5 MARCH, 2013
CLAUS PALLE
LEGAL ADVISER
Danish State/EU
Unions Collective agreements
Employers*
Individuals Individual agreements
Legal framework
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8. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
SALARY NEGOTIATIONS
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9. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
SALARY NEGOTIATIONS
› Two main scenarios: Hiring and annual salary
negotiation.
› Public institution
› – Always CBA
› - Study CBA, ask union.
› - After the first job there will be more room for negotiations
than what many people think.
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10. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
SALARY NEGOTIATIONS
› Private company with collective bargaining
agreement (CBA) (there are very few of these)
› - More fringe benefits, slightly more spread in salary.
› - Study CBA, ask union, also for proof-reading of contract.
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11. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
SALARY NEGOTIATIONS
› Private company w/o CBA
› - Everything is negotiable – as an outset
› - Ask union for advice, also for proof-reading of contract.
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12. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
…AND THEN YOU´RE UP! WHAT NOW?
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13. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
BATNA – IN THE HIRING PROCES
› Best – Alternative – To – Negotiated – Agreement
› - Bear in mind – they choose you every bit as much as you
choose them. You represent value and commitment.
› - Science tells us, that if you are invited for interviews, you
are deemed worthy from a formal qualification standpoint.
› - After that it is a question if they like you or not(!)
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14. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
WHAT’S ON THE TABLE – BESIDES WAGE
› Extra holidays,
› health insurance,
› bonus,
› salary under vacation in your first year (where you
have not earned any),
› phone, internet, computer,
› title,
› possibility of working at home, other kinds of
flexibility,
› free parking space, lunch, etc.
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15. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
IF YOU DON’T ASK…
› With high umemployment rates, it is easy to fall into a hole
and just say yes, but:
› Salary is just one thing, and perks and niceties can often
offset a lower salary, if they are useful to you.
› Asking politetly and methodically uncovering different
possibilities will make you seem composed and thorough
rather than greedy.
› Use the aquired experience and skill next time you apply for
a new job.
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16. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
HOW TO
› Be prepared – know what you want, and prioritise. Get facts
rights – never assume! (Use statistics and advise from union,
do not pretend to know what your opponent thinks).
› What can you do/have you done. Positive impact. (Log it)
› Be realistic but ambitious.
› Ask questions. Use few good arguments.
› Stay positive/constructive.
› Salary negotiatons goes on all year. 16

17. AARHUS
UNIVERSITET 5 MARCH, 2013
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
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