Denmark: Recruitment and selection

Updating author: Lise Lauridsen, Bech-Bruun
Original author: Yvonne Frederiksen, Norrbom Vinding

See the legal services provided by the authors of International > Denmark, including any discounts/offers for subscribers.

Summary

• Employers are prohibited from taking into account in the recruitment process various characteristics, as well as whether or not a candidate has taken or plans to take pregnancy or childbirth-related leave. (See Discrimination)
• Although there are no requirements as to how a job advertisement should be worded, employers are prohibited from stating that they are looking for employees of a particular characteristic under any of the prohibited discrimination grounds. (See Advertising vacancies)
• During the recruitment and selection process, employers must collect and process any personal data in accordance with data protection legislation. (See Data relating to candidates)
• Employers are prohibited from asking candidates questions about certain personal characteristics and must not take into account a candidate's response to pregnancy-related questions when deciding whether or not to hire them. (See Selection)
• There are various rules regarding work carried out by young people. (See Young people and children)
• Positive action in favour of disabled people is permitted to a certain extent. (See People with disabilities)
• To work as employees in Denmark, people who are not citizens of EU/EEA member states or Switzerland must apply for a residence and work permit. (See Foreign nationals)