Norway's leading employers' organization NHO is offering voluntary severance packages to all its approximately 250 central office employees. The move comes as the federation seeks to reduce costs despite reporting membership growth.
NHO's press contact confirmed the voluntary departure packages are available to central staff. How many employees accept the offer will determine next steps in the organization's restructuring process.
Nina Kraugerud Ertzaas, NHO's director of communication and government relations, explained the decision in an email statement. "NHO has membership growth, but increased costs in recent years mean we choose to offer voluntary severance packages," she wrote.
According to Ertzaas, NHO aims to reduce total cost levels by "approximately one-tenth." She acknowledged such processes can be demanding but expressed hope for achieving necessary cost reductions through voluntary solutions.
The organization has not specified exact cost-cutting figures or the baseline for its planned 10% reduction. NHO's 2024 annual report showed approximately 753 million Norwegian kroner in ordinary operating costs. A 10% cut would equal around 75 million kroner ($7 million).
NHO represents over 33,000 member companies as Norway's primary business and employers' organization. The severance offer reflects broader economic pressures affecting even established institutions.
This cost-cutting initiative at Norway's most influential business lobby suggests even well-resourced organizations are feeling financial strain amid current economic conditions.