[anon4242]

It's interesting, I've started seeing job ads in Sweden where you are expected to setup your own company to work for a US-based company with US-style PTO. The salary looks bigger than what is typically offered by Swedish companies but that is because not only do you have to work more, the company you setup will also have to pay the quite steep payroll tax (at ~31%) that most employees are not familiar with (as it's paid by the employer on top of your salary before personal taxes).

The law in Sweden dictates that a company must give its employees at least 5 weeks of vacation of which at least four weeks consecutively some time during June, July and August.

This is really insidious as it looks like you'll be earning a lot (but you won't) and it's hard to sue yourself for only giving yourself two weeks of vacation.

[bjornsing]

Free choice… how terrible!

BTW, I’m a Swede with my own company looking for deals like this. Where did you find them? :)

[anon4242]

I found it on LinkedIn, specifically targeting Swedish SWE ASFAIR but do you really want to work for $50/hour? That's less than I pay my carpenter and it's what $100000/year boils down to when you have to work 50 weeks/year.

The ad said prominently $100000/year which sounds pretty ok for an SWE salary in Sweden, but then if you read on you realized that you needed to start your own company and your company would be paid $100000/year which is quite a big difference. That's my main objection to these types of ads, if you don't already run your own company, chances are low you are familiar with the payroll tax and other costs that comes from running a company which will eat into what you may initially perceive as a good salary, only to end up working more for less.

In my experience as self-employed, it's not that hard to find Swedish companies that pays at least twice the hourly rate and then you can have much longer vacation and still earn more!

[bjornsing]

True. That’s not the level of compensation I’m looking for.

[robertlagrant]

It seems very odd that the government would dictate four consecutive weeks at that time of year. Why do they get to decide when you should work or take the bulk of your holiday?

[dalbasal]

>It seems very odd that the government would dictate four consecutive weeks

Because summer vacations are part of the culture, and considered important. That rule allows families to take long holidays together, with other families, etc.

I realize that it's a foreign idea... but this is a foreign place.

[anon4242]

The government doesn't dictate when you take your vacation. They only dictate that if you want four consecutive weeks of vacation during the summer no company is allowed to deny it. Your employer is however allowed to say that you get your four weeks any time during that period. Most people typically vacation in July so the whole country basically closes down then.

[Hikikomori]

You're not required to take it then, but it's your right to take 4 weeks in this period if you want to.

[dalbasal]

yeah...

Honestly, I think governments in some places (Sweden certainly) should just formalize these practices and make them easier and more transparent.

Work is getting international. There is value for Swedish workers and the economy here. Companies (even with good faith) can't deal with unlimited jurisdictions directly.

If it's formalized, it can be managed.

For some countries (Eg France) it would probably too hard or conflicting. For sweden... why not?