How can I, as a private sector worker, get a higher salary?
As a NITO member in the private sector, you have specific rights to influence your own salary. The collective agreements give you opportunities both through annual local negotiations and on special occasions such as a change of position or temporary position. Here you will get an overview of all the options and practical advice to ensure the best possible salary development.
The rights are in the collective agreement
This page goes through the rights to have salary assessed, cf . the collective agreements NITO has with NHO and Virke. These rights apply to members of companies where the agreements are applicable.
Do you work in an unorganized company? Read about direct agreements as an alternative.
Your opportunities for a salary increase – an overview
It is important that you are aware of the opportunities the agreement gives you in order to make the best use of them.
The main opportunities for a salary increase are:
- Annual local negotiations - the most important opportunity
- Other opportunities for salary increases - outside the annual negotiations
- Right of appeal in the event of unreasonableness - have you been treated unfairly when it comes to pay?
- If you work in a company without a NITO company group - company groups and direct agreements
- The salary review "An important tool"
- Briefly about the system - how is it connected?
Annual local negotiations – your most important opportunity
All wage formation for NITO's members in the private sector takes place locally in the individual company. The local negotiations are your annual opportunity to get a higher salary.
What are annual local negotiations?
Once a year, NITO's union representatives negotiate with the management about a pot of money on the basis of the criteria in the collective agreement. The pot is calculated as a percentage based on the NITO members' salary base, and is then distributed individually by the management based on criteria agreed upon by the parties .
The criteria to be used
After NITO has negotiated the financial framework, the management distributes the money. Your salary must be assessed individually based on:
- Your expertise
- How good you are at the job
- What results you achieve
- The responsibilities and scope of work in your position
You should not be treated differently because of your gender. The company can also use other criteria that have been discussed with employee representatives.
If you are absent due to parental leave or long-term illness, you will still be assessed. If you are young, it should be taken into account that you normally develop your skills quickly.
Deadlines you should be aware of
It is recommended that the negotiations take place by 15. September. Contact your union representative to find out when the local negotiations are planned at your place and any deadlines for submitting claims.
Most companies use 1 July as the effective date, i.e. that the wage increase applies from then. However, the parties may agree on a different effective date.
How you can influence the outcome
As a member, you can influence the result through:
Through union representatives: It is NITO's company group/union representative who meets with the employer in the negotiations. Participate in member meetings and give your union representatives good arguments they can use in the negotiations.
Through the salary discussion: An important premise for individual salary determination is that the manager and employee talk together about salary regularly. The collective agreement gives you the right to an annual salary review. Use that opportunity to give your manager arguments for why you deserve a higher salary.
Read more about how you can influence the result through a salary review
What happens if you are not satisfied with the result?
If you are not satisfied with the individual distribution, you request a meeting with the manager and receive an explanation. You can also bring a union representative if you need it.
Other opportunities for a salary increase
In addition to the annual negotiations, there are other opportunities to have your salary adjusted:
In the event of a change of position – the right to a salary assessment
When you change position or have significantly changed work tasks, the collective agreement gives you the right to a new salary assessment. This is an important right that ensures that your salary reflects your new responsibilities.
If you receive a higher salary due to a new position or significantly changed tasks, the new salary will apply from the time the position was changed.
Temporary position in a higher position – your right to remuneration
If you substitute in a position with more responsibility and qualified tasks, you are entitled to extra remuneration for this – when the temporary position lasts more than three consecutive weeks and is not a holiday substitute.
You will be told how much you will receive in remuneration before you start your temporary position. If they don't make it, they must do it as soon as possible afterwards. The remuneration must reflect the requirements of the position in which you are deputing.
Additional regulation in the event of biases
If you discover unfair pay differences in your workplace, the company can rectify this outside of the annual negotiations. There may be differences between professional groups, departments, genders or other groups.
Do you think there are such biases in you? Contact the union representatives.
Right of appeal in the event of unreasonableness
Do you think you have been treated unfairly when it comes to pay? Then you can appeal and have the case reassessed.
Here's how to proceed:
- Talk to your manager first: Raise the issue directly with your immediate superior
- Get help from union representatives: If that doesn't help, union representatives can take up the matter on your behalf
This applies when you believe there are unreasonable circumstances that provide grounds for reassessing your salary.
If you receive little or no pay rise
If you receive little or no salary increase, the company will try to find solutions together with you to improve your salary in the future. Union representatives may participate in the conversation.
If you work in a company without a NITO company group
Even if NITO does not have a company group and union representatives at your workplace, you still have important rights:
You can present your views directly to management before they do the annual salary review. You can do this alone or together with other NITO members in the company.
NITO can also contact your company in writing on your behalf. This applies to questions about salary, working conditions and which statistical group you belong to.
Stand stronger together - create a corporate group
For unorganized companies
Without a collective agreement, you do not have the rights that the collective agreements provide to influence your own salary. You can still ask for a salary discussion with your manager to talk about your salary development. This is at least as important when you do not have union representatives who promote your case.
Direct agreements can provide similar rights, but it depends on what has been negotiated locally.
The salary review – an important tool
The salary review is an important tool that supports many of the opportunities described above.
In the salary review, the manager will tell you how they have assessed you based on the criteria, why they have assessed you this way, and what it means for your salary. You will be given the opportunity to comment on the assessment.
For detailed advice on how to prepare for and conduct a successful salary review, see NITO's salary review guide.
Briefly about the system - how is it connected?
In local negotiations, NITO's union representatives and management are parties. They negotiate based on the rules of the game and rights in the collective agreement. The collective agreement and the main agreement are negotiated by the central parties.
The agreements are valid for two years at a time, so negotiations take place every other year. NITO will then meet with NHO and Virke respectively to negotiate the actual content of the agreements. It is in these negotiations that NITO can make use of the right to strike. In the local wage negotiations, NITO has no right to go on strike.
Provisions in the collective agreements - overview table
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Situation |
NHO-NITO |
Virke-NITO |
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Annual local negotiations |
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Pay review and individual assessment |
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Change of position |
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Temporary position in a higher position |
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Additional regulation in the event of biases |
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Right of appeal in the event of unreasonableness |
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Solutions for low/no pay increases |
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Companies without a company group |
Contact your union representative
NITO negotiates salaries locally in the individual enterprise. Therefore, your union representative is an important supporter when you want to influence your own salary development. Contact them to hear about how to proceed where you work.
