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25 days are the mandated minimum. Many have 30 days or more. Buy not only that, you are entitled to 4 consecutive weeks during the summer months. Having 4 (or

25 days are the mandated minimum. Many have 30 days or more. Buy not only that, you are entitled to 4 consecutive weeks during the summer months. Having 4 (or more) weeks off during summer is the norm in Sweden. So the question is rarely about if you're gonna be off, but rather how you're going to spend that time.

ttb12 2y ago
But are the 4 consecutive weeks during summer apart from the 25 (or 30 or whatever) days? If not that seems actually limiting, to have to use up most of the days in one go.
- pitkali 2y ago
  It's not separate, but they don't necessarily have to use them like that. They merely can.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- huesatbri 2y ago
  You are free to distribute your days as you wish mostly. The 4 consecutive weeks thing is something that the employer is not allowed to deny you. The norm is to use the 4 weeks and then use the remaining days to stretch public holidays a little further.
- piva00 2y ago
  They aren't, you use your allocated vacation time but are able to take the 4 weeks without question or needing to schedule around other coworkers (it's auto-approved). Usually around June/July there's very few people working at most places, some restaurants are closed, etc. At one employer it'd be around 10-15% of us around during summer. I actually prefer to work during this time, much slower pace, time to get into projects that couldn't be planned for. At max I like taking a week off and saving the rest of my vacation days for end of September when the weather starts to get cold. I don't really understand why some prefer to travel outside of Sweden in June/July/August since those are the best months to be around (and it's high tourism season anywhere else in Europe).
  - Ekaros 2y ago
    Similar system in Finland. But generally there is implicit negotiations in tech that someone will be around to look after things. And if no one is willing the employer can order the placement of vacations. But there is generally enough people willing to move things around a bit for most to get what they want. With most office jobs it is pretty free. But when it comes to factories or mandatory services the employer can absolutely ensure that there is enough workers.
  - carlosjobim 2y ago
    June/July is the peak season in Scandinavia for restaurants. I have never heard of a Nordic restaurant that closes in those months, although many close after August outside of the cities. June/July is when they make their money.
    - Hikikomori 2y ago
      Many of my favorite lunch places in Stockholm closes some weeks over the summer, typically first weeks in August but earlier as well.
    - piva00 2y ago
      Definitely not what I experience in Stockholm, in July quite a few of the restaurants I tend to go are closed.
    - dagw 2y ago
      I have never heard of a Nordic restaurant that closes in those months Lots of restaurants in that mainly cater to lunch guests close for at least a few weeks during those months, since 90+% of their customer base are away and they get very few tourists.
  - kareemm 2y ago
    > I don't really understand why some prefer to travel outside of Sweden in June/July/August since those are the best months to be around (and it's high tourism season anywhere else in Europe). I live in a part of Canada where the summer months are the best months to be here. I used to spend lots of the summer here and travel mostly during less pleasant parts of the year until I had kids. Now they’re out of school for the summer so that’s when we travel… especially to see aunts and uncles who have kids, who are also not in school and thus available to spend time with us when wee visit.
rob74 2y ago
Ah, that explains a lot! We actually visited Sweden last summer (with a camper van), and the first few days were still in the summer vacation. The first night was no problem, because we had reserved a place, but for the second night we only found a place at the third campground we tried. Then, once the vacation was over, the campgrounds were much less crowded (except for an influx of pensioners) - but some attractions (e.g. a historical railway) were already closed.

ttb12 2y ago

But are the 4 consecutive weeks during summer apart from the 25 (or 30 or whatever) days? If not that seems actually limiting, to have to use up most of the days in one go.

pitkali 2y ago
It's not separate, but they don't necessarily have to use them like that. They merely can.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
huesatbri 2y ago
You are free to distribute your days as you wish mostly. The 4 consecutive weeks thing is something that the employer is not allowed to deny you. The norm is to use the 4 weeks and then use the remaining days to stretch public holidays a little further.
piva00 2y ago
They aren't, you use your allocated vacation time but are able to take the 4 weeks without question or needing to schedule around other coworkers (it's auto-approved). Usually around June/July there's very few people working at most places, some restaurants are closed, etc. At one employer it'd be around 10-15% of us around during summer. I actually prefer to work during this time, much slower pace, time to get into projects that couldn't be planned for. At max I like taking a week off and saving the rest of my vacation days for end of September when the weather starts to get cold. I don't really understand why some prefer to travel outside of Sweden in June/July/August since those are the best months to be around (and it's high tourism season anywhere else in Europe).
- Ekaros 2y ago
  Similar system in Finland. But generally there is implicit negotiations in tech that someone will be around to look after things. And if no one is willing the employer can order the placement of vacations. But there is generally enough people willing to move things around a bit for most to get what they want. With most office jobs it is pretty free. But when it comes to factories or mandatory services the employer can absolutely ensure that there is enough workers.
- carlosjobim 2y ago
  June/July is the peak season in Scandinavia for restaurants. I have never heard of a Nordic restaurant that closes in those months, although many close after August outside of the cities. June/July is when they make their money.
  - Hikikomori 2y ago
    Many of my favorite lunch places in Stockholm closes some weeks over the summer, typically first weeks in August but earlier as well.
  - piva00 2y ago
    Definitely not what I experience in Stockholm, in July quite a few of the restaurants I tend to go are closed.
  - dagw 2y ago
    I have never heard of a Nordic restaurant that closes in those months Lots of restaurants in that mainly cater to lunch guests close for at least a few weeks during those months, since 90+% of their customer base are away and they get very few tourists.
- kareemm 2y ago
  > I don't really understand why some prefer to travel outside of Sweden in June/July/August since those are the best months to be around (and it's high tourism season anywhere else in Europe). I live in a part of Canada where the summer months are the best months to be here. I used to spend lots of the summer here and travel mostly during less pleasant parts of the year until I had kids. Now they’re out of school for the summer so that’s when we travel… especially to see aunts and uncles who have kids, who are also not in school and thus available to spend time with us when wee visit.

rob74 2y ago

Ah, that explains a lot! We actually visited Sweden last summer (with a camper van), and the first few days were still in the summer vacation. The first night was no problem, because we had reserved a place, but for the second night we only found a place at the third campground we tried. Then, once the vacation was over, the campgrounds were much less crowded (except for an influx of pensioners) - but some attractions (e.g. a historical railway) were already closed.