Leave of absence
An employee can be given leave of absence for many different reasons. In some cases, it is regulated by law or other regulations, such as the ordinance regarding leave of absence (tjänstledighetsförordningen).
Other kinds of leave – such as being free from work in connection with moving home, funerals etc. are regulated in the Villkorsavtalet agreement.
Paid leave
According to the Villkorsavtalet agreement, employees are permitted paid leave in the following cases:
- Moving home – 1 work day
- Taking exams – max. 5 work days per calendar year
- Union work – max. 10 work days per calendar year
- Visiting a doctor, occupational health services, outpatient care or maternity clinic, or donating blood – the time that is needed
- Acute dental problems and examinations or procedures following referral by a dentist or doctor – the time that is needed
- Serious illness, bereavement, funerals, making an estate inventory or division of inheritance within the family – max. 10 work days per calendar year.
Funerals must be for someone within the immediate family; that is, spouse/partner, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, foster parent, parent-in-law, uncle/aunt, nephew/niece, stepchild, or brother/sister-in-law. Stepparents are also considered close family members.
Leave of absence for other government employment
Those who have permanent government employment may be granted leave (for no longer than two years) to accept another, fixed-term, employment within the government.
If you wish to make use of your entitlement regarding leave of absence, you must notify your supervisor at least as far in advance as would be required for handing in your notice, though no earlier than two months.
In the event that you have been informed that your employment will not continue when the fixed-term employment comes to an end, you must immediately inform the supervisor who granted a leave of absence.
Leave of absence for studies
According to the Employee's Right to Educational Leave Act (Studieledighetslagen), staff who have been employed for at least six months are entitled to a leave of absence for educational reasons. The studies do not have to be related to your work. There must, however, be a syllabus in place.
The employer is entitled to delay the leave for up to six months but must inform you when you may begin to study.
You are entitled to cancel your study leave up to 14 days after you have notified your employer. If you have been on leave for a year or more, notification must be given one month in advance. If you would like to cancel your studies without returning to your work, you must request that your study leave be changed to another kind of leave of absence.
Your employer may allow you to retain your salary, or part of it, during your studies.
Private matters
Employees may be granted a leave of absence for private matters if there are special grounds for doing so and if it is possible to do so without causing difficulty for the organisation.
Family care
If a close relative becomes seriously ill, you are entitled to full leave from your work during the time that you receive a benefit for care of closely related persons (närståendepenning) from Försäkringskassan (in accordance with Chapter 47 of the Social Insurance Code) and a reduction in working hours to one quarter, half or three quarters during the time you receive three quarters, a half or one quarter of the benefit.
Apply for leave of absence via Primula under Min sida/Ledighet ('My account/Leave').