Lots of people choose to work in countries that offer good compensation and benefits. Thus, they put the U.S. and Middle East on top of their lists. But they miss to put Sweden on their list, too. Sweden offers great benefits and compensation, just the same.

Sweden has been regarded as one of the Nordic countries that maintain good working environment. This environment is characterized by respect and cooperation gaining Sweden admiration internationally.

The benefits that Swedish workers have are:

• five (5) weeks of paid holiday;
• paid time off for illness or child care;
• sixteen (16) months of paid parental leave;
• regulated working hours;
• overtime compensation; and
• pension benefits.

These benefits are given as implemented by the Swedish law or by union contract.

Employment Contract

The Swedish employment contract includes the following rules and regulations:

• The employment contract is normally valid for an indefinite term.
• In some cases, like a temporary demand for extra workers, fixed-term contracts are allowed. Fixed-term contracts, however, can be terminated without any definite grounds.
• When employment contracts are terminated, employers must still follow certain rules.
• The last person hired would be laid off first in case of work shortage.
• The person laid off has the right to be transferred in a different area of organization that offers the same kind of work.
• Employee laid-off because of work shortage is entitled to re-employment priority with the company within a year.
• The effort to resolve problems in cases of dismissal due to personal differences between employer and employee must come from the employer.
• The employer has the right to terminate employee’s contract immediately if the employee gravely neglects his work duties and responsibilities.

Remuneration (Salary) Setting

The labor market is responsible for the wage issue in Sweden. Generally, the trade unions and employers’ organizations set the wage of Swedish workers. The accepted salary that the labor market has set is 13, 000 Swedish krona (SEK) for minimum monthly wage for full-time workers.

When an employee is sick, he is also entitled to sick pay. This means 80% of the total loss of income for days 2-21 is paid by the employer.  The social insurance system pays employees a sickness benefit of 77.6 % of income, but not exceeding 7.5 times the price base amount unit. There is no compensation paid for the first day off of an illness period.

Wage Guarantee

Under the Wage Guarantee Act of Sweden government, if the employer is bankrupt and is incapable of paying employees’ salaries, the state will answer for the payments. These payments can cover claims three months after the petition for bankruptcy and for the periods of notice of dismissal.
 
Working Hours

As a rule, the basic workweek is 40 hours. Overtime is limited to 48 hours over a four week period and no more than 200 hours per year. This applies to all employees, except for those in managerial positions, people working out of their homes, and some other special categories.

Laws Against Discrimination in Working Life

There are four specific laws imposed by Swedish government to prohibit discrimination in the workplace. These laws cover:

• equal employment opportunities for men and women;
• measures against ethnic discrimination in working life;
• measures against discrimination based on sexual orientation;
• prohibition of discrimination against people with functional disabilities;
• prohibition of direct and indirect unfairness against job applicants and employees;
• hiring procedures
• decision-making regarding promotion and/or selection of employees for training leading to promotion;
• pay and/or employment conditions; and
• lay-offs and/or ending employment contracts.

Aside from these benefits, Swedish workers also enjoy other compensation such as sick leaves, parental leaves, and vacation leaves (New Year's Day, Epiphany, Good Friday, Easter Day, Easter Monday, Labor Day, the Ascension of Christ, Whit Sunday, Whit Monday, All Saint's Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day).

Source:  Scandinavica.com