Sickness absence
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Articles on absence due to sickness.
OECD: Norway trumps sick leave costs of all industrial countries
(Feb 17, 2012) Norway’s unemployment is low and employment is high. But the costs related to sick leave and early retirement are double that of the OECD country average based on GDP according to the OECD Economic Survey of Norway.
Norwegian tripartite agreement on sick leave
(Mar 02, 2010) Norway's government and the social partners have reached a new agreement aimed at reducing sick leave. The agreement covers the next four years and prolongs the 2001 Inclusive Workplace Agreement.
"Myths muddle debate on sick leave"
(Feb 25, 2010) Björn Johnson is fighting what he calls the myth of Sweden's high levels of sick leave. The Malmo University researcher has just published 'The Fight Over Sick Leave', a book exploring why and when sick leave became defined as a social problem.
The Nordic region tightens sick leave rules
(Feb 09, 2010) One of the pillars of Nordic welfare systems is the right to sickness pay. But should employees enjoy the same pay whether or not they are at work? Who decides how long a person can be off sick? What kind of contact should the worker maintain with the employer? These questions are fueling a heated debate in several Nordic countries. Nordic Labour Journal takes a closer look at new measures and rules being tightened.
Focus on ill health means less absence
(Feb 09, 2010) If you at an early stage enter a dialogue with workers who are ill, you reduce the level of sick leave. That's the experience in the Høje-Taastrup municipality west of Copenhagen.
Sick leave in Finland: municipalities on the right track
(Feb 09, 2010) Many Finish municipalities have managed to turn the trend of ever increasing levels of sick leave. As the country's largest municipal employer, the City of Helsinki is developing ways of helping people on long-term sick leave to get back to work.
The constant hunt for ways to limit sick leave
(Feb 09, 2010) Levels of sick leave vary a lot between the different Nordic countries, yet it seems it gets harder and harder to qualify for sickness benefit - whether the level of sick leave rises or falls. There is no agreement among researchers on what really lies behind these variations, nor on what policies actually work.
New rules for long-term sick leave in Sweden
(Jan 14, 2010) Swedish job centres face busy times as 16,000 people on long-term sick leave are transferred from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency to the Public Employment Service. From now on they should be offered individual help and advise to help them re-join working life. The move has been met with fierce criticism, forcing the government to back down on several points.
No easy way to lower sick leave
(Oct 01, 2006) In Norway the co-operation between the government, the unions and the employers is usually very close. But September saw an unprecedented quarrel among the three parties about who should pick up the bill for the rising cost of sick leave.
Swedes at the top
(Nov 01, 2003) In the ongoing debate, Swedes tend to be portrayed as suffering from illness most often, compared to the rest of Europe. “That’s totally wrong!” says Paula Liukkonen, Senior Lecturer of Business Management, who has carried out extensive research on personnel policy and working environment.
The fight against increasing sick leave
(Nov 01, 2003) Sweden and Norway are well off compared to the rest of Europe when one considers the living standard, the working environment, social security and average life expectancy. The economy of these societies is threatened, however, by ill health and overwhelming numbers of sick notes. These numbers are actually topping those from other European countries. Even though the statistics may contain errors, the fight against sick leave tops the agenda.
Norwegian partnership for an inclusive workplace
(Nov 01, 2001) An "intention agreement for an inclusive workplace" was reached between the government and the Norwegian social partners at the beginning of October. Over the next four years, the parties will work actively towards reducing absenteeism by 20 %, getting more disabled people into work and encouraging people to stay working for longer. The agreement will be reviewed after two years.
Well-being at work
(Nov 01, 2001) Nordic efforts to improve working environments are now beginning to show results. Tarja Filatov, Finland's Minister of Labour, has brought the attention of the Nordic Council to the economic significance that a good working environment can have for businesses and the national economy.
