Red flags in Estonian employment contracts
2026-02-03 · 5 min read
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.