Sweden debates retaining sick‑pay deduction amid rising absenteeism concerns

Swedish officials and commentators argue against eliminating the sick‑pay deduction (karensavdraget), citing historical evidence that its removal in the 1980s led to Europe’s highest sick‑leave rates—about 10 % of working time. The deduction was reinstated as a "karensdag" in the early 1990s. Critics warn that dropping it now would increase short‑term absenteeism and impose costly burdens on employers. Norway, which lacks a deduction, records the highest sick‑leave rates in Europe, while Germany is tightening its rules by requiring a doctor’s note from the first day of illness. Local politicians in Jönköping echo the national debate, emphasizing that remote‑work policies, not the sick‑pay deduction, should be reconsidered. The issue forms part of broader pre‑election discussions on labour policy.