My experience of going on sick leave in Sweden.

In the aftermath of my first miscarriage (read about that here), I went on sick leave in Sweden. In this post, I will talk you through the process, things to consider, and how I rehabilitated as an employed person in Sweden.

Each organization may differ based on their individual sick leave policy, union agreements, or the like. Please research your organization’s individual sick leave policy and benefits by contacting your HR or visiting your company’s intranet page.

All Employees are Entitled to Sick Leave and Benefits

As my partner and I were being discharged from the hospital, the nurse explained to us that all employees in Sweden are entitled to seven days of sick leave from their employer without the need for a doctor’s certificate. The seven calendar days start from the first day you are sick, even if you fall sick on a weekend and you do not work weekends per your contract. As the employee, it is up to you to report your sick leave to your employer (either your HR or direct manager). I personally sent an email to my direct manager while at the hospital.

You Will Need a Medical Certificate for Extended Leave

Per my organization’s sick leave policy, I needed a medical certificate to be on sick leave for more than seven days. I contacted my vårdcentral (care center) via 1177 Direkt and started a chat with a doctor at my care center. I explained to him through the chat box that I was still recovering from the physical affects of my miscarriage and requested an additional seven days of leave (days 8-14). I provided him with information about my employment and he completed a medical certificate (läkarintyg) for me. I was able to download this as a PDF and send it to my payroll department via email. My doctor automatically sent my medical certificate to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan).

During the first 14 days, your employer assess your entitlement to sick pay (sjuklön) by “assessing whether the employee’s sickness makes them unable to work.” (Försäkringskassan). At my organization, I was entitled to be off work 100% (per my medical certificate), which entitled me to 80% of my region’s monthly salary cap, paid by my organization. Check with your organization to see the sickness benefit you are entitled to.

From days 15 to 90, sickness allowance (sjukpenning) is paid by Försäkringskassan. Your organization might also have a top-up benefit of the sickness allowance, which can often include an additional 10%. This means that you might earn 90% of your fixed annual salary while on sick leave for the first 90 days. There is a regional income cap to be aware of. Calculate your expected sickness allowance here.

You Can Return to Sick Leave Multiple Times

After my late-term miscarriage, I took 14 days of 100% sick leave. At the time, I was in complete shock and desperate to create a sense of normalcy in my life, so returned to work after only two weeks post-miscarriage. After four weeks of full-time employment, however, I realized I was not fit for work. I spoke with my boss and we decided that I would go on sick leave again. I began days one through seven a second time.

I contacted my doctor and made an appointment to meet her within my first seven days of sick leave. During this appointment, we discuss my situation and together decided that I would take one full month of sick leave (100%). At this appointment, we booked a follow-up appointment one week before my sick leave was due to end so we could evaluate my rehabilitation process.

During this evaluation appointment, my doctor and I decided that I would take an additional two weeks of 100% sick leave and use this time to create a rehabilitation plan with my employer. After those two weeks, my doctor suggested I return to work at 25% for two weeks and then 50% for two months.

I worked with my HR department and direct manager to discuss my works tasks, ensuring that we followed my doctor’s prescribed time allocation. For the first two weeks back at 25%, I went into the office every morning for two hours. The goals was for me to get back onto a work routine, see my colleagues again, and chip away at my email inbox. I had a meeting with my manager during my second week to evaluate if I was ready to return at 50%, which I was. This reintroduction phase was incredibly useful.

During my two months at 50%, I worked four hours a day, which left plenty of time for the psychological and medical appointment I was attending. My manager and I discussed manageable work tasks considering my time allocation and I had frequent check-ins with HR.

After this, I decided I was ready to return to work at 100%. It is typical that one would ramp up to 75% next, but I was feeling ready. Remember that you are in the drivers seat of your health and wellness. Your doctor and HR are there to support your needs.

Sickness Benefits are a Sign of a Country’s Humanity

Hard moments in life are never made easier by financial troubles. I am so grateful to the Swedish system and to my employer for supporting me during one of the hardest times in my life. I was able to take the time away from work I desperately needed, all while still maintaining about 70% of my fixed monthly salary and knowing my role was waiting for me upon my return. This provided me with space to focus on my healing.

• You will be assigned a case officer through Försäkringskassan when you are on extended sick leave. When you are ready to go off sick leave, either contact this person or close your case on My Pages of Försäkringskassan’s website.
• You can check to see how much sickness allowance you qualify for here.

• Are you a student, a job seeker, self-employed, or something similar? Please read this page on Försäkringskassans website to see what applies you.
• While rehabilitating, be very honest with your doctor, HR, and manager to ensure that your work tasks match the level you are able to preform at. Better to take it slow, than to take on too much and need to go back on 100% sick leave.

• Försäkringskassan – Sick employee days 1-90
• https://www.forsakringskassan.se/english/sick
• Sickness benefit
• Lag (1991:1047) om sjuklön