A recent analysis by Försäkringskassan reveals that many employees on long-term sick leave in Sweden are not receiving the compensation they are entitled to. While individuals who are collectively bargained employees can receive almost 90% of their regular salary after being on sick leave for an extended period, a concerning 40% are missing out on this financial support. This is especially alarming given that those with higher salaries are more likely to receive compensation than those with lower incomes.

The analysis highlighted that individuals who are collectively bargained employees and are sick for longer than two weeks are eligible for sick pay from Försäkringskassan, typically representing 80% of their salary. After three months of sick leave, employees should transition to receiving compensation from an insurance agreement, which usually covers nearly 90% of their salary in the first year. However, statistics show that only 60% of these eligible employees received payments from their contractual insurance in 2023, marking a worrying trend as the numbers continue to decline.

The disparity in compensation rates based on income levels raises significant concerns regarding equitable access to benefits. This trend not only highlights potential gaps in the awareness of rights among employees on sick leave but also points to a larger issue of how financial safety nets are structured in Sweden, potentially forcing lower-income employees into more vulnerable positions when facing health-related work absences.