Petter Stordalen highlights retirement age as a measure against high sickness absence – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

– The Swedes are much smarter than us. We have too many people standing outside, says hotel owner Petter Stordalen. According to Nav, Norway has the world’s highest sickness absence rate. Sickness absence caused Norway to lose 40 million working days last year alone. – The short-term absence is a challenge we must solve. The Swedes have a Valentine’s Day, we don’t. They have significantly lower sickness absence than us, says Stordalen. Neither LO leader Peggy Hessen Følsvik nor NHO director Ole Erik Almlid believes that a retirement day would be a good solution in Norway today. This is how sick leave works in Sweden Sweden has had sick leave in the sick pay system since 1992. Employees must themselves cover the loss of income on the first sick day, then (from day 2 – 14) sick pay is paid from the employer corresponding to 80 percent of the salary – regardless of how much you earn. Introduced retirement age: – A very reasonable measure Göran Persson, former Swedish prime minister, introduced retirement age in Sweden in his time. – It is a very reasonable measure. It was very unpopular in Sweden, but once it was established, everyone probably thought that one day, I can contribute to that. That’s what Persson says to news during Arendal Week. Former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson Photo: William Jobling / news Wants the municipalities on the team Nav’s figures also show that 20 per cent of everyone of working age was out of work at the end of 2023. Stordalen itself owns several hotels in both Sweden and Norway and is therefore well acquainted with the work culture in both countries. He is clear that although short-term absence in Norway is a big problem, long-term absence is the worst. Among other things, he highlights much closer cooperation between the municipalities and the employers in our neighboring country as a possible solution. – The municipalities in Sweden are required by law to take responsibility if someone is left out of working life for a long time, explains Stordalen. – Then the employer must create a plan in collaboration with the municipalities to get them back to work, Stordalen follows up. Read more about the differences in sickness absence between Norway and Sweden here: Work life stops worried At the end of 2023, 658,000 people were out of work in Norway. This worries both LO chief Peggy Hessen Følsvik and NHO chief Ole Erik Almlid. They still do not believe that introducing a retirement age will be a good measure in this country. Should a qualifying day be introduced? – No, the LO leader answers clearly and receives support from NHO director Ole Erik Almlid. LO leader Peggy Hessen Følsvik and NHO director Ole Erik Almlid during an event at Arendalsuka on Tuesday. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB Disagreement about lower rates in the sick pay scheme When asked about good sick pay schemes, the reason why sickness absence is higher in this country than in Sweden, Følsvik replies: – We must have good sick pay schemes in Norway. It is part of our welfare state, she replies. – We must dare to discuss the sick pay scheme in Norway. We have the world’s highest sickness absence rate and it is increasing. We have to get the workforce we have into the companies. Then we must dare to discuss different arrangements, replies the NHO leader. Almlid also believes that one must be open to reducing sick pay rates, but Følsvik and LO are completely against this. Published 13.08.2024, at 10 p.m



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