Can my employer put me on probation?
With conditions — there is no single statutory probation period in Iceland; it must be written into the employment contract to apply. Where a probation period is agreed it is usually up to 3 months, and a shorter notice period applies during it. But even without a specific clause the start of a job is a "probation" in effect, because notice is short at first: on the general market (SGS/SA) there is no notice in the first two weeks, then 12 calendar days, and only after 3 months does it become 1 month to the end of the month. The myth many believe: that an employer can "just dismiss you without notice" on probation. It does not hold — the agreed notice applies, dismissal must be in writing and may not breach equality or the ban on discrimination. Verbal promises of probation hold poorly; get it in writing.
📋 The rules
- No single statutory probation period exists; it is a matter of agreement. Where agreed it is usually up to 3 months, but it must be written into the employment contract.
- On the general market (SGS/SA) notice is short at the start: none in the first 2 weeks, then 12 calendar days, and after 3 months 1 month to the end of the month.
- All dismissals must be in writing and generally take effect at the end of the month, including during probation. A verbal dismissal is unreliable and hard to prove.
- Dismissal on probation may not breach equality or the ban on discrimination (e.g. for pregnancy, sex or origin) — probation is not a blank cheque.
- After probation the notice grows with seniority: 2 months after 2 years and 3 months after 3 years with the same company.
🔓 Exceptions
- If there is no probation clause in the contract, the general notice rule applies at once — short at first, but without a specific "probation" so named.
- Collective agreements and individual contracts can agree a longer or shorter probation and different notice, as long as the minimum right is respected.
- Special dismissal protection (e.g. shop stewards, pregnant women, parental leave) applies regardless of probation and limits the right to dismiss.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Even though probation is a matter of agreement, the consequences of a wrongful dismissal are real. Dismissed without respecting the agreed or statutory notice, an employee is entitled to pay through the notice period — compensation matching the time the notice should have covered. A dismissal that breaches the ban on discrimination (for pregnancy, sex, origin, disability) or special dismissal protection can be both void and compensable, regardless of whether the employee was on probation. The hidden cost for employees is trusting verbal promises of probation and not getting a written contract; without it, it is hard to prove what was agreed. For employers the risk is treating probation as a blank cheque for dismissal without notice — it is not, and a written, reasoned dismissal timed to the end of the month is always the safest course.
📎 Official sources
- Starfsgreinasamband Íslands (SGS union) · notice period →
- ASÍ (Confederation of Labour) · labour law portal (dismissal) →
- Samtök atvinnulífsins (SA employers) · hiring and termination →
❓ Frequently asked
Is probation required by law in Iceland?
No, there is no single statutory probation period; it is a matter of agreement that must be written into the employment contract to apply. Where agreed it is usually up to 3 months, but even without it the notice period is short in the first weeks of a job.
How long is the notice period during probation?
On the general market there is no notice in the first two weeks, then 12 calendar days, and only after three months of continuous work does it become one month to the end of the month. Individual contracts can agree a different notice during probation.
Can I be dismissed without notice on probation?
No, the agreed or statutory notice period applies during probation too, and a dismissal must be in writing. Summary dismissal without notice applies only in very serious cases, so probation is not a blank cheque to dismiss without any notice at all.
Does probation have to be in writing?
Yes, in practice probation must be written into the employment contract to have effect, because verbal promises are hard to prove. Without a written clause the general notice rule applies at once, which is short at first but is not a specifically named probation period.
Does dismissal protection apply during probation?
Yes, special dismissal protection and the ban on discrimination apply regardless of probation. A dismissal for pregnancy, parental leave, sex or origin can be void and compensable, and shop stewards enjoy special protection — probation does not change that.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “probation period iceland”
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- “trial period iceland”