I’ve had a long love affair with Sweden, stemming from my teenage obsession with Swedish tennis player, Stefan Edberg. I learned Swedish at university (as part of my Bachelor of Science degree!), have visited the country several times, and am delighted that one of my best friends now lives there (i.e. excuse for ongoing visits). What became very interesting to me more recently (over and above the beautiful people, musical accents, pretty lakes, incredible tasting tap water, I could go on….) was how incredibly different it is in Sweden to raise a family – starting with the cost of having a baby, to taking parental leave, and balancing work and family responsibilities.
I love this Harvard Business Review article contrasting the experience of one smart, ambitious mother in Stockholm with another in Seattle (read it here). Much of it is consistent with my friend’s experience too.
Some of the astounding facts:
Swedish parents are entitled to 480 days of government-paid parental leave at 80% of their salary (with a cap) when a child is born or adopted.
To support gender equality, both parents are expected to share this (90 days of this are reserved solely for each parent), meaning co-parents can also work more flexibly and participate more in family activities/responsibilities.
Swedes can spread these parental leave entitlements over 8 years (it expires when the child turns 8 years of age).
Hospital stays for childbirth are close to free of charge, as healthcare is state-funded and universal.
Sweden also has an extremely affordable public childcare system that guarantees every child a spot starting at 1 year of age.
Now of course Sweden’s tax rates are higher to compensate for all of this, and the uptake of parental leave differs from company to company and family to family. Like other Nordic countries, there is a strong focus on gender equality, which helps to improve the balance of work and family responsibilities between parents, as well as promote stronger workforce participation and career progression for women. I hope Australia continues to lift in this space too, and we see such positive shifts in the years to come.
I would also happily consider relocating to Sweden, except for the long, dark and freezing cold winters… the expensive cost of living… salty liquorice… and of course being too far away from my family! ;-)
For further reading:
