In Sweden, parents are entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave when a child is born or adopted. Each parent, if there are two parents, is entitled to 240 of those days. If the child is born in 2016 or later, each parent has 90 days reserved exclusively for them. These days cannot be transferred to the other parent if not taken. However, a single parent is entitled to the full 480 days. It is worth noting that fathers in Sweden currently average around 30% of all paid parental leave.
Childcare and Schooling
From the day they turn one, children in Sweden have the right to a place in nursery school at a modest fee. Most children begin nursery school at some point and attend it until the autumn of the year they turn six, which is when compulsory school begins. This affordable childcare option allows most parents in Sweden to choose to go back to work after their parental leave.
School for children aged 6 to 19, from preschool class (fรถrskoleklass) to upper secondary school/sixth form/high school, is fully tax-financed, often including lunches. Schooling is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16.
Healthcare and Sick Child Care
The majority of healthcare in Sweden, including childbirth, is tax-subsidized. If you work in Sweden and need to take days off to care for a sick child, there is compensation available through the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Fรถrsรคkringskassan) for parents with children under 12 years of age. For children aged 12-15, a doctor’s certificate is required.
Work-Life Balance
The employed part of the Swedish population works around 1,441 hours per year on average, which is about 18% less than the OECD average. Sweden’s productivity also compares well with that of other countries in the EU.
Sweden offers a range of family-friendly amenities and features to support work-life balance. From pram ramps to playgrounds and dedicated park sections for children, there are plenty of public areas to keep the entire family happy.
Family-Friendly Facilities
Sweden provides family-friendly facilities to support parents. Most shopping centers and libraries have nursing rooms for infants and changing tables in shared bathrooms. Libraries also offer children’s books in different languages and often host activities such as painting, crafts, and sing-alongs. When dining out, most restaurants provide high chairs for babies and toddlers, and many also have changing tables in the toilets.
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