From November 1st, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency will return to its regular rules regarding medical certificates: day 8 for compensation for care of a sick child (VAB) and day 15 for sickness benefit.
In order to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the society, a temporary rule change was introduced in March, which meant that medical certificates did not have to be presented before sick day 15. The government clearly stated that the purpose of this rule change was to reduce the pressure on healthcare and reduce the risk of infection.
Soon after the government informed the public about the rule change, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency informed that they were abolishing the requirement for a medical certificate up to and including sick day 21. As a result, many employers asked themselves how they would handle this. Despite the fact that the change in the law only temporarily moved the requirement for a medical certificate from day 8 to day 15, many employers chose to follow the Swedish Social Insurance Agency's example, and thus not see absence due to illness as unlawful absence even if a medical certificate was missing between days 15-21.
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency now chooses to return to its regular regulations from November 1st. A medical certificate must thus be submitted to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency from day 15 during the period of illness. For those employers who have chosen to follow the Swedish Social Insurance Agency's guidelines, and abolish the requirement for a medical certificate until day 22, it is now time to review whether these guidelines should be readjusted. It may seem particularly important with the clarity for the companies that pay sick pay during sick days 15-90 in accordance with current collective bargaining agreements in the workplace.
In connection with that the Swedish Social Insurance Agency per November 1st will reintroduce the requirement for a medical certificate from day 15 during the period of illness, the requirement for a medical certificate for the care of a sick child (VAB) is also reintroduced. As of November 1st, employees thus need to submit a medical certificate to receive compensation from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency to receive compensation if the child is ill for more than a week.
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