Can your boss call you back from vacation? Swedish law explains your rights

If your boss asks you to cancel your summer vacation, you may be obligated to do so—but only under exceptional, unforeseeable circumstances. Swedish labour law grants employees four weeks of consecutive paid summer holiday, a cherished right that cannot be lightly interrupted.

According to Caroline Lindeberg, negotiator at the union Akavia, employers must have ‘exceptional reasons’ to cancel approved vacation. This includes situations like all other employees falling ill or an unforeseen crisis affecting the entire company. However, white-collar workers enjoy stronger protections than those in healthcare, where extraordinary reasons are more readily accepted.

Employees cannot be required to be reachable by phone or email during their holiday unless previously agreed. Those with valid reasons to refuse recall—such as having small children with no childcare—may also decline. If recall is unavoidable, the employee retains salary, gets the vacation days back, and should negotiate compensation for any incurred costs like canceled trips or rentals.

Article and image source: thelocal.se