Employment start date
What does it mean?
The employment start date (ansættelsesdato) is the official date when your employment contract takes effect and you begin working for the employer. It appears on your contract and payslip and is decisive for several legal rights.
Seniority is calculated from this date and affects notice periods under the Salaried Employees Act, severance pay entitlements, and sometimes pay steps in collective agreements.
If you change roles within the same company, clarify whether seniority continues or resets. Internal transfers often preserve seniority; a new legal entity may not.
The start date also matters for probation periods, pension scheme entry, holiday accrual and reporting to authorities. Always keep a copy of your signed contract with the correct start date.
Magnus Villumsen
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