The Swedish work climate is generally open and informal. We call the boss by her or his first name, encourage teamwork, have flexible work hours, dress casually and strive for gender equality. A long tradition of active labor market policies and powerful unions has resulted in a strong protection of workers’ rights and a great number of benefits for Swedish employees.
Relaxed atmosphere in a Swedish office. Photo: Henrik Trygg/Image Bank Sweden
With the history of Swedish trade and labor unions reaching as far back as the late 1800s, almost 80 percent of Swedish workers are union members, including private-sector worker Lars Johansson and public-sector employee Anna, his wife (see "Meet the Johanssons" in the right column).
One of the unions’ main roles is to drive and support collective bargaining. This is a system in which unions negotiate with employers to establish a set of rights—ranging from wage and vacation agreements to the right to go on strike—that apply to all employees at a workplace.
As a health care employee of the county council of Kronoberg, Anna enjoys as many as 31 days of paid vacation a year since she turned 40. Lars, who works in the production industry, has the legal minimum of 25 days’ vacation. On the other hand, Lars always has the twelve national holidays off, whereas Anna sometimes has to work due to the irregular work schedules in the care sector.
At least a couple of times a year, Anna and Lars are offered to go on a course. This is part of a well-developed system of continuing education that is aimed at ensuring that all employees get a chance to develop, both as professionals and as individuals. Swedish employees have collective agreements to thank for many of their employment benefits.
The safety of the working environment is the shared responsibility of employers, employees and equipment suppliers, and the regulations can be found in the Work Environment Act. The act also contains measures to restrict hazards, prevent accidents and in other ways protect the physical and mental health of employees.
Apart from being safe, Swedish workplaces are also known for their fairness, honesty and transparency. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is central to Swedish businesses, which a widespread concern for the environment, human rights and anticorruption bears witness to. Call it pretentious if you like, but Sweden believes that a responsible approach to business can change society and the environment for the better.
By now, you may have figured out that although the Johanssons’ monthly income may be fairly low in comparison with some of the other industrialized countries, they have managed to achieve a very high living standard thanks to all the tax-financed public services they have access to.
Rikard Lagerberg & Emma Randecker
Rikard Lagerberg is a writer and editor who has spent most of his adult life in the US and on Ireland. Returning to Sweden he discovered a new curiosity for his native country.
Editor and writer Emma Randecker spent most of her life in Sweden, apart from a couple of longer excursions to France and the UK. It was, in particular, a longing for the changing Swedish seasons that made her go back home after a few years.
Both Rikard and Emma work at the Swedish Institute.
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