Early birds can start working as early as 6 am and finish their day at 3 pm in Sweden. Photo: Hans Bjurling / www.imagebank.sweden.se

More than half of Sweden’s public and private sector employers allow their workers a degree of flexibility in when they start and end the working day, allowing them to spend more time with their children, leave early to go to the gym, or just stay in bed longer.

Flexitime (also called flextime) was first introduced to Sweden in the 1960s following pressure from unions, but employers soon came to see the benefits it could bring, such as increased productivity, lower absenteeism and a happier workforce.

Creativity boosted

Anna-Karin Nilsson is a graphic designer in Göteborg (Gothenburg), western Sweden, who says flexitime improves the quality of her work. “In my job I need to let my imagination run and I’m most creative in the evenings,” she says. “When possible I start work in the afternoon and then really get into my stride just when everyone else is leaving. I think if I had to work nine to five, the end product wouldn’t be as good.”

Also in Göteborg, Per Österström, who works for a telecommunications company, can choose his hours between 8am and 8pm, as long as he works 7.75 hours a day. By working over and above this amount, he is able to save hours in a “flex-bank” to be cashed in and used when he needs extra time off. “It’s easy to flex out and leave one or two hours early, and then just make it up by working extra another day,” he says. “Working flexibly is definitely a good thing. It makes life easier, not only because you can use it, but because your work feels more flexible.”

Less taxing on staff

Even at that most Swedish of public-sector institutions, Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Authority), most employees are able to choose their working hours. Workers can start between 7am and 9am and leave their desks between 3pm and 7pm, which is very popular, according to Anders Andersson: “There are many benefits for employees, including being able to fit in your working day around daycare for your children.”


Parents in Sweden can have more time with their children when working flexibly. Photo: Maskot

Sweden’s bosses are also generally in favor of flexitime – as long as it doesn’t go against their interests. Karin Ekenger, at Svenskt Näringsliv (the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise), which represents Sweden’s employers, says: “You can try to make working hours as flexible as possible for employees, but you have to weigh up their wishes against the demands of the company.” She adds that flexitime does not work in all sectors, such as in manufacturing when there is shift work, and in healthcare where certain staffing levels have to be kept.

Good business sense

In a report by the EU’s European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Sweden was ranked second for flexible working behind Latvia.

Erland Olauson, of LO (Landsorganisationen – the Swedish Trade Union Confederation), says Sweden’s flexitime system is the result of pressure from both sides, employees and employers, but on different grounds. For companies, having more contented employees can just make good business sense. “But I don’t think it means we have more reasonable employers in Sweden than anywhere else,” he says.

Flexible working hours benefits both to employers and employees in Sweden. Photo: Hans Bjurling / www.imagebank.sweden.se

Flexible school hours

So if flexitime leads to greater productivity and more contented employees, could it not also be the answer for tired teenagers lacking motivation at school? Yes it could, according to Swedish research which shows that nearly half of 16-year-olds consider themselves “evening people” who struggle at school in the mornings due to tiredness.

About 20 schools in Sweden have introduced a flexitime system which allows pupils a degree of flexibility in when they start their day. Results have been positive, and other schools are considering it. The age-old cry of “get up – you’re going to be late for school!” may one day be a thing of the past.

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David Wiles works flexibly as editor of Sweden Today magazine, giving him more time to spend with his young daughters.

The author alone is responsible for the opinions expressed in this article.

Classification: A155EN

© Photo 1: Photo: Hans Bjurling / www.imagebank.sweden.se
© Photo 2: Maskot
© Photo 3: Photo: Hans Bjurling / www.imagebank.sweden.se