So I have been been following this sub reading about a lot of shitty employer behaviors, and I don’t want to go into specific cases. But I would like to comment some general things to reinforce the general idea that you are not insane in wanting more, because it can work.
First, many of the aggressive an threatening notes and shit that get posted would, if taken to court in Sweden, result in fines for the employer in favor of the employee. We have a separate legal arm and court for labor law.
Unions are mostly uncontroversial here, sure some right wing people and organizations complain about them.
Then it is the deal with standard deals, job security and general social security. This will be a long bullet list.
- employment can’t be terminated without valid cause after a probationary period
- termination (from employer perspective) is usually at least 1 month with full pay, but this extends with time to 6 months with full pay, I think it is after 10 years
- everyone get 5 weeks of paid vacation, some have 6 or more after certain age limits such as 40.
- all public holidays are off, or compensated
- everyone gets government pension which is OK as long as you earn Ok, most people have a collective bargaining pension on top of this that is good or excellent. Paid by company, no matching criteria.
- social security means all healthcare is almost free (a hospital visit is about $30 regardless of what it is.
- we have high cost coverage for prescription based medicine (meaning above a threshold it is free)
- dental is free until you are 18, subsidized after that
- university is tuition free, you take student loans and grants to pay for cost of living, rent and books
- Student loans are extremely low interest, less than 1% now iirc you get something like $300 in grants and $700 in loans per month from the government
- the vast majority of schools are free up to and including high school
- child allowance from government is $150 per month, per child. This is converted into a student grant in high school
- Daycare is about $130 per month, but is subsidized for low income families
- unemployment insurance is cheap and covers 80% of your salary
- sick leave is practically unlimited, in most cases you get no pay for first day of sick leave then 80% for all following days
- every child grants parents with 390 days of parental leave to split between parents. 80% of your salary paid by government.
- if you have to stay home for caring for a sick child 80% salary for that day, paid by government.
- most worker/industry/construction etc is covered by collective bargaining agreements, with insurances, pension, base pay, OT and such covered.
I think that’s it…
Ah Sweden has a GDP per capita of about $52000 and generally a high standard of living.
You are not insane for thinking there should be more to it than what you seem to be getting.