For employers
The page was last modified:Here you will find information and references to what applies if you have employees and your business is affected by the coronavirus.
On this page you will find information about:
- Short-time working allowance
- If an employee gets sick or infected
- Reduced employer contributions for young people
- Laying off employees due to the corona epidemic
- General advice from the Public Health Agency of Sweden
- New rules for certain types of employment
- Urgent need for staff
Short-time working allowance
Short-time work means that an employee temporarily reduces the work hours and pay instead of being laid off. This means that employers can reduce employees' working hours and receive financial support from the Government to compensate for a significant part of the costs for retaining the employee.
You can register an application to claim financial support from March 29th. The support can be applied for retroactively from December 1st, 2020 and can be received until June 30th 2021.
In 2021, it is also possible to receive compensation for training and development. Your employees can partake in training and development initiatives during the time they participate in short-time work, provided that it is regulated in agreements. You can apply for compensation for these initiatives in connection with the application for short-time work, and it can be applied for retroactively from January 1st, 2021.
It is important that you prepare as much as possible before submitting your application in order for the processing to be quick. It is more important to be accurate in your application than to apply quickly. Make sure you are properly prepared by taking a quick test (in Swedish) to see if you are eligible for financial support . You can also use the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth's calculation tool to see how much support you can get if your application is granted. The support for short-time work allowance has been extended and the working hours can be reduced up to 80% for the months: May, June and July.
Short-time working allowance - Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth
If an employee gets sick or infected
Compensation for the qualifying period
The government has decided to temporarily suspend the deduction from sick pay for the qualifying period from 11 March 2020 to 30 April 2021.
The qualifying period for employers - Swedish Social Insurance Agency (in Swedish)
The qualifying period if you are selfemployed - Swedish Social Insurance Agency (in Swedish)
Compensation for the cost of sick pay (limited company)
The government has introduced temporary rules for sick pay costs that apply until the 30 April. The government will fully cover employer' sick-pay costs from April, May, June and July 2020. For the period of August 2020 to February 2021, a different calculation applies based on the costs you have had.
Medical certificates for employers - Swedish Social Insurance Agency (in Swedish)
Sick pay costs if you are selfemployed at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (in Swedish)
Compensation for the sick pay costs - Swedish Social Insurance Agency (in Swedish)
Deferred requirement for doctor’s certificate
The deferred requirement for doctor’s certificates from the 8th to the 15th day of the sick period has been extended until 30 April 2021. In addition, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency has decided that no medical certificate is required until day 22 when applying for sickness benefit. The decision applies to 31 March 2021.
Doctor's certificates for employers - Swedish Social Insurance Agency (in Swedish)
Doctor's certificates if you are selfemployed - Swedish Social Insurance Agency (in Swedish)
Doctor’s certificate for carrier allowance
The requirement for a doctor’s certificate when applying for a carrier's allowance is temporarily removed from 6 February to 30 April 2021. To be entitled to the compensation, a doctor must still have decided on suspension, i.e. that you cannot go to the workplace because you are, or can be, infected.
If you are infected, but not sick
Your employees can apply for carrier allowance if they have been suspended from work by a doctor, i.e. have been instructed that they may not go to work because they are, or may be, infected with a disease that is classified as dangerous to public health and society. COVID-19 is considered such a disease. Your employees can also apply for carrier allowance if they have been suspended from work because they live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Carrier allowance - Swedish Social Insurance Agency (in Swedish)
Compensation if you belong to a high-risk group
If some of your emploees belong to a high-risk group for COVID-19 and must refrain from working in order to not risk being infected at work, they can apply for compensation from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. The compensation is paid with a standard amount of a maximum of SEK 810 before tax per day during the period from 1 January to 30 April 2021.
Collected information about the coronavirus - Swedish Social Insurance Agency (in Swedish)
Reduced employer contributions for young people
The government has decided to temporarily reduce employer contributions for young people who have turned 18 but not 23 at the beginning of the year.
The new rules mean that you as an employer receive lower employer contributions for young people born in 1998-2002 during the year 2021. The Swedish Tax Agency automatically calculates the correct employer contributions when you submit the employer declaration. The law is temporary and applies from 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2023 and is used for compensation for work paid out after 31 December 2020.
More about reduced employer contributions for young people - Swedish Tax Agency (in Swedish)
Laying off employees
Here you will find information about laying off staff at verksamt.se:
Information on what applies if you need to lay off staff
Termination of employment due to shortage of work
The Swedish Employment Agency has more information for employers concerning short-time working allowance and laying off staff because of the coronavirus.
General advice from the Public Health Agency of Sweden
All operations in Sweden are obliged, based on the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Sweden, to take measures to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus.
Employers should make sure that the employees and any visitors keep a distance and can regularly wash their hands with soap and water or antibacterial hand gel, that employees can work from home, avoid unnecessary travels and adjust working hours to avoid rush hour traffic.
Read the Public Health Agency's general advise
New rules for certain types of employment
Extended maximum time for introductory jobs
Job-seekers can have an introduction employment for up to 36 months.The rule is valid to 31 December 2021.
New temporary rules for certain types of employment - Swedish Public Employment Agency (in Swedish)
Opportunity for 12 extra months with a new start job (nystartsjobb)
You who have an ongoing decision where the support period expires between 1 July and 31 December 2020, can apply for support for another 12 months.
Employ with support at the Swedish Public Employment Servicev (in Swedish)
Urgent need for staff
The Platsbanken at the Swedish Public Employment Service has a new page for advertisements for employers with an urgent need for staff: #jobbjustnu. You will also find information on quick interviews and how to conduct interviews.
Urgent need for staff at the Swedish Public Employment Service (in Swedish)
Responsible: Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth