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WORKING IN SWEDEN

Reader question: Do I get a day off at Midsummer?

When Swedes talk about celebrating midsommar, they mean Midsummer's Eve, which this year falls on Friday June 21st. It's not a so-called 'red day', but do you still get the day off?

Reader question: Do I get a day off at Midsummer?
A Midsummer celebration in Dalarna last year. Photo: Ulf Palm/TT

The majority of workers – at least those who work normal working hours throughout the week – will have the day off on Midsummer’s Eve, despite the fact that it is not officially a röd dag or public holiday.

The reason it’s celebrated on a Friday rather than on the actual summer solstice, which this year is on June 20th, is due to a 1953 reform to make it fit in better with the working week – and presumably to give workers the Saturday off to recover from the festivities.

It is, however, listed as a holiday day equivalent to a Sunday in Sweden’s Annual Leave Act, so if you don’t usually work on Sundays you should have the day off.

If you do have to work on Midsummer’s Eve, you may be offered OB-tillägg (pay for working inconvenient hours), overtime pay, or a day off in lieu at a later date.

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SWEDEN IN FOCUS

What steps do you need to follow to become a Swedish citizen?

In this week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra we discuss what documentation you need to provide when applying for Swedish citizenship.

What steps do you need to follow to become a Swedish citizen?

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local Sweden’s Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. 

Becky recently got the good news that her residence permit application has been accepted. Now that she’s applying for citizenship we thought it would be a good time to look at what information you’re expected to provide when you’re ready to enter the ultimate boss level in the game of Sweden. 

The panelists also discuss the fallout from the government’s contested claim that Sweden is seeing more emigration than immigration for the first time in 50 years.  

Sweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local’s Membership+ subscribers. Follow the links at the bottom of this page to get full access. 

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