Remote work has settled into everyday life in Norway, but it looks a little different than in some other countries. You will hear people talk about “hjemmekontor,” which literally means home office, and for many it is part of a flexible, trust-based work culture. Offices are still important. At the same time, a lot of knowledge workers have a routine where they work from home one or two days a week.
The short answer is yes, working from home in Norway is fairly common, especially in roles where most tasks are done on a laptop. Hybrid setups are the norm. Fully remote roles exist, though they are less typical unless the company was designed that way from the start or hires regionally across the country.
If you are thinking about moving to Norway, taking a workation, or negotiating your contract, you will want to understand how Norwegians approach flexibility, workplace safety, and the small practicalities that make home office life smooth. Let’s take a closer look at how working from home actually works in Norway, and what to expect if you are joining in.
What Norwegians Mean by “Home Office”
When Norwegians say they have hjemmekontor, they usually mean a planned day at home within a hybrid schedule. It is not a secret day off. People keep normal hours, join video meetings, and are reachable on Teams, Slack, or email. Hybrid commonly means 1 to 3 days at home per week, arranged with the team so meetings run smoothly. Many companies still expect a regular presence in the office for planning, social connection, and collaboration.
How Common Is Working From Home in Norway Today?
You will see the highest rates of home office in tech, consulting, finance, media, engineering, and parts of the public sector and academia. Larger cities like Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger lean more hybrid because of long commutes and a dense knowledge economy. Smaller companies and rural areas also do it, but schedules may be shaped by local needs and team size.
Sectors that rely on physical presence remain mostly on site. Healthcare, retail, hospitality, transport, construction, and manufacturing use home office only for specific administrative tasks. This split is practical, not cultural. If the work can be done well from a laptop, a Norwegian employer is likely to allow some degree of flexibility.
Culture and Expectations Around Flexibility
Norwegian work culture is built on trust and autonomy. Managers set goals, teams agree on deliverables, and people are expected to plan their time. Core hours are common so colleagues can find each other, often around late morning to early afternoon. Outside that window, you might see flexible start or end times as long as the work gets done.
There is also a strong norm around work-life balance. Many teams try to avoid meetings late in the day. People pick up children from barnehage or school, then log in briefly if needed. You are not expected to be constantly available in the evenings, and it is appreciated if you set a status or out-of-office note when you are offline.
Agreements, Policy, and Workplace Safety
Many employers use a simple written agreement for home office that covers the number of days, working hours, equipment, information security, and health and safety responsibilities. The Norwegian working environment rules place responsibility on employers to ensure a safe setup, whether at the office or at home. That does not mean your company will rebuild your living room, but they will care about ergonomics, screen breaks, and clear routines, and may ask for a quick risk assessment or checklist.
Monitoring of employees is tightly regulated and based on necessity and transparency. If a tool logs activity, employers are expected to inform staff. Privacy and data protection are taken seriously, and secure handling of customer data is part of most home office guidelines.
Equipment, Stipends, and What Companies Provide
It is standard for companies to provide a laptop and necessary accessories. Many also provide a screen and headset. Some offer a proper chair and desk or a one-time allowance for setting up a safe workstation. Others keep equipment at the office and allow you to borrow what you need. Do not assume there is a monthly home office stipend. Ask HR what is covered, including internet contribution, extra power use, or repairs.
A common practical tip is to take ergonomic needs seriously. Use a proper chair, raise your screen, and keep a separate keyboard and mouse. Norwegians are quite direct about this. If your shoulders ache, people expect you to adjust your setup, not just power through it.
Taxes and Home Office Deductions
Norway’s tax rules around home office are specific. An allowance from your employer may be tax-free if it meets certain criteria and is used for necessary equipment. Deductions for using part of your home can apply in limited cases, often when a room is used exclusively for work. Rules change and hinge on details. Keep receipts and ask your employer or a tax advisor how your setup should be handled. It is worth clarifying before you furnish a full office.
Internet, Power, and Practical Realities
Norway has reliable broadband in most towns and decent 4G or 5G coverage in many rural areas. If you are moving, it is smart to check the local provider and package speeds. Winters are dark and, in parts of the country, long. Good lighting matters. Many workers use a desk lamp with a warm bulb to reduce eye strain. Electricity prices can fluctuate. If you notice higher bills in winter, you are not alone, and some employers will talk through options for partial coverage or more days at the office.
Apartments can be small by North American standards. Noise rules in buildings are respected, so keep calls civil in volume and use a headset. If you need variety, you will find plenty of quiet cafés and co-working spaces that are friendly to laptops during daytime hours.
Co-Working Spaces and Hybrid Office Life
Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Tromsø, and many regional centers have co-working hubs with day passes or monthly memberships. They provide meeting rooms, phone booths, and printers, and often host networking events. If your team is distributed across cities, co-working can be a helpful middle ground, giving you a professional setup without a long commute to a head office.
Etiquette for Meetings From Home
Punctuality is appreciated. Meetings are kept short and to the point. Agendas are helpful and notes are often shared afterward. Many teams expect cameras on for smaller discussions and off for large town halls. Speak plainly and avoid talking over others. If you have children or a delivery at the door, a quick heads-up is fine. People understand real life. Just do not make a habit of joining calls from the grocery store.
If You Are Negotiating a Hybrid Setup
When joining a Norwegian company, talk about home office early and practically. A simple pitch works best. Propose specific days at home, confirm your core availability, and explain how you will handle handovers and urgent issues. Frame it around team outcomes and customer impact, not personal preference alone. Most managers will appreciate clear guardrails and a trial period to see how the rhythm fits.
Industries With Strong and Limited Home Office Options
Strong candidates for regular home office include software development, product management, UX, data, finance and accounting, marketing, communications, law, HR, engineering design, and research. Public administration and universities often permit hybrid work for desk-based roles. Limited home office is typical in roles involving equipment, labs, fieldwork, patient care, or customer-facing service. If you are switching sectors, expect a different balance and plan your living location and commute accordingly.
What About Foreign Employers and Workations?
Norway is a great place to work for a foreign company if your time zones and contracts make sense. Check your visa, residence, and tax obligations carefully. Working from Norway, even briefly, can create tax or social security ties. Short workations are popular, especially in summer, but they still count as work. If you are on a tourist status, verify what is allowed before logging in.
For practicalities, a Norwegian SIM with generous data, a backup hotspot, and a quiet place to take calls will make your days smoother. In winter, plan your daylight errands early and keep a walk in your routine. Norwegians swear by fresh air to reset the brain after a screen-heavy day.
Small Habits That Help Your Home Office Day
Plan your day around a few fixed anchors. Many people use a quick stand-up with teammates, a midday break for a simple lunch, and a short walk when the sun is out. Keep your calendar tidy and block focus time. Use statuses and shared calendars generously so colleagues know when you are heads-down or stepping out. These simple signals are a big reason hybrid works well here.
So, Is It Common To Work From Home in Norway?
Yes, in roles suited to it, and usually as part of a hybrid rhythm. Offices still matter, but flexibility is normal, trust is the baseline, and routines are designed to protect both productivity and life outside work. If you bring a thoughtful setup, communicate clearly, and keep your commitments, home office in Norway will feel natural and widely accepted.