The employer’s right of direction

According to the Employment Contracts Act, the employer is entitled to direct work and give employees instructions. The employer may decide what work is performed and how, when, where, at what time and by whom.

The employee must follow the instructions given by the employer within its competence.

The right of direction is restricted: the employer may not give orders which are illegal, contrary to fair practices, unreasonable or discriminating. If the employer violates the restrictions, the employee has the right to not follow the instructions.

Refusal to follow legal instructions issued by the employer is usually sufficient grounds for terminating the employee’s employment contract.

In unclear situations, it is advisable to say that you will comply with the changes specified by the employer while reserving the opportunity to clarify the legality of the instructions from, for example, the shop steward or the union.