Obligation to Work

An employee’s most important obligation is the obligation to work, whereas an employer’s most important obligation is to pay the employee a salary for the work performed. The obligation to work starts at the beginning of the employment relationship, which may be later than the date of the employment contract. The obligation to work continues throughout the employment relationship and also throughout the notice period unless the employer releases the employee from the obligation.

The obligation to work is personal and the employee may not, for example, ask another person to undertake the work on his/her behalf without the employer’s consent. The obligation to work corresponds is concurrent with the obligation to pay salary, except for holiday periods or other periods of paid leave from work in which case the employer must pay salary even if no work is performed.