Red flags in Estonian employment contracts

Estonia's Töölepinguseadus (TLS) provides strong employee protections. If you are joining an Estonian company as an expat, these are the clauses worth scrutinising.

Probation period

TLS § 88 limits probation to 4 months (or 6 months for certain roles). Contracts exceeding this may be partially unenforceable.

Non-compete clauses

Post-employment non-compete restrictions must meet strict TLS requirements including compensation during the restriction period. A bare non-compete without compensation is often invalid.

Working time and overtime

Ensure working hours, overtime rules, and compensation are specified. TLS § 5 sets minimum standards that cannot be waived to the employee's detriment.