1. What annual leave benefits are employees entitled to in Sweden?
In Sweden, employees are entitled to annual leave benefits that include annual leave days, holiday pay, and compensation in lieu of annual leave. These rights apply under the Annual Leave Act in Sweden, with special provisions applying to certain categories of employees under separate legislation in Sweden.
2. How many days of annual leave are employees entitled to in Sweden?
Employees in Sweden are entitled to twenty-five days of annual leave in each annual leave year. If employment in Sweden begins after 31 August during the leave year, the employee is entitled to only five days of annual leave for that specific year.
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3. What is the annual leave year and qualifying year in Sweden?
In Sweden, the annual leave year runs from 1 April to 31 March of the following year. The qualifying year in Sweden is the twelve-month period immediately preceding the annual leave year and is used to calculate earned holiday pay and paid leave entitlement.
4. Can agreements limit employee annual leave rights in Sweden?
In Sweden, agreements that restrict an employee’s rights under the Annual Leave Act are generally invalid. However, specific deviations in Sweden are allowed where the Act explicitly permits them, particularly through collective bargaining agreements approved by central employee organisations in Sweden.
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5. How is paid annual leave calculated in Sweden?
In Sweden, paid annual leave is calculated by subtracting unpaid absences from days worked during the qualifying year, dividing the result by the number of days in that year, and multiplying by twenty-five. Certain absences in Sweden are credited as worked days under the Act.
6. Can employees waive unpaid annual leave in Sweden?
Employees in Sweden may choose to waive annual leave without pay. If requested, employees in Sweden must inform their employer of their preference regarding unpaid leave, but only after the employer has informed them of how many unpaid leave days they are entitled to.
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7. How should annual leave be scheduled in Sweden?
In Sweden, annual leave scheduling should be agreed through collective bargaining or consultation. If no agreement is reached, the employer in Sweden decides the leave dates and must notify the employee at least two months in advance, unless special reasons justify shorter notice.
8. Are employees guaranteed summer leave in Sweden?
Unless otherwise agreed, employees in Sweden must be scheduled to receive at least four consecutive weeks of annual leave between June and August. This requirement in Sweden may be waived only if special reasons exist, even when no agreement has been reached.
9. Can employees carry over unused annual leave in Sweden?
Employees in Sweden who earn more than twenty days of paid annual leave may carry over remaining paid leave days to future years. Carried-over leave in Sweden must generally be used within five years and cannot be carried again while older carried-over leave is taken.
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10. What happens to annual leave when employment ends in Sweden?
When employment ends in Sweden, employees must receive compensation in lieu of unused annual leave. This compensation in Sweden is calculated using the same rules as holiday pay and must be paid without unreasonable delay, and no later than one month after employment ends.
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