About LaW-BALANCE

The first work package examines the legal framework concerning flexible work arrangements, thereof: 1) legal framework as regards remote work, 2) the right to disconnect.

The second work package focuses on the legal framework as regards different forms of paid leave, thereof: 1) right to paid annual leave, 2) right to parental leave, in particular, paternity leave, 3) rilght to leave for carers.

The third work package takes a closer look at the legal framework as regards protection against discrimination when claiming and enforcing these rights (focusing on the protection against discrimination for carers).

LaW-BALANCE will approach the research areas through legal doctrinal analysis. Applying this method means looking at the legal sources - both on the national and EU level - and examining these via in-depth analyses in the three selected areas, i.e., examining legal provisions, preparatory works, court cases, and related academic legal scientific publications.

Furthermore, comparative legal analysis will be employed. Comparative analysis may reveal discrepancies and inconsistencies of legal norms in national law. Analyses of different fields of law and different legal jurisdictions will contribute to stimulating critical discourse and raising awareness about unresolved problems at the national level. This is of vital importance for the impact of EU and EEA law in the selected areas of Norwegian labour and social law as the EU Directive on Work-life Balance and the EU Working Time Directive play an essential role for LaW-BALANCE. 

Following an assessment of the current legal status (de lege lata analysis), a comparative analysis will contribute to an evaluation of how the law might be altered in the future (de lege ferenda) to resolve the identified legal problems.