The Business Council, represented by Björn Brynjúlfur Björnsson, is at the center of a controversy regarding sick leave rights in Iceland. The organization's report, which concludes that sick leave rights for public employees can be seven times greater than those in the private sector, has faced harsh criticism from trade union leaders, particularly from Sonja Ýr Þorbergsdóttir, head of the BSRB, which is the national union of public sector employees. According to her, the calculations made by the Business Council fail to account for key differences in how sick days are counted, especially in the public sector.

In a detailed response, Sonja emphasized that the way sick days are calculated in the public sector includes calendar days. For instance, if an employee is sick on a Friday and the following Monday, their total count would be four sick days due to the inclusion of the weekend. This counting method, she argues, misrepresents the actual sick leave situation for public employees compared to private sector workers, leading to misleading conclusions drawn by the Business Council.

The debate over the sick leave rights showcases the ongoing tension between labor unions and employers in Iceland, reflecting broader issues of worker rights and protections. As both sides prepare for potential negotiations, understanding these discrepancies in sick leave calculations will be crucial in forming future labor guidelines and ensuring fair treatment for all employees across different sectors.