If you are dismissed or have your employment terminated
When you start a job, you are employed permanently unless otherwise agreed. If your employer chooses to dismiss you or terminate your employment, they must do so in writing. The employer must also demonstrate that there were reasonable grounds for this, should a dispute arise. For your part, you should gather evidence and carefully observe the time limits.
An employer can unilaterally terminate a contract of permanent employment only through notice of termination or dismissal, which must be given in writing and based on reasonable grounds. This means that your employer must demonstrate reasonable grounds for your dismissal or termination of employment, should a dispute arise.
Five things you should do…
- Request that the employer explain in writing the reasons why your employment is to end.
- Check that the notice of termination contains instructions on how you, as an employee, can initiate proceedings for compensation or annulment, should you wish to do so. Such instructions must always be provided.
- If you are not a member of a trade union, please contact us immediately. If you are a member of a trade union, you should contact your union representative.
- Keep all letters, e-mails and text messages exchanged with your employer. Gather everything that can be used as evidence.
- Ask your employer to issue you an employer’s certificate (arbetsgivarintyg).
…And three if you are given notice of redundancy
- If you work at a company with several employees, ask for a copy of the order of priority.
- If you have been employed for more than 12 months in the last three years, e-mail your employer stating that you are claiming the right to preferential re-employment. Keep a copy of the e-mail.
- Investigate whether the employer has advertised any vacancies for which you could be qualified following a certain period of training. Keep copies of any such job advertisements.
A note on time limits
As an employee, you must pay attention to the time limits that apply to termination of employment and dismissal. If you want your termination of employment or dismissal annulled, you must notify your employer within two weeks and then apply for a summons of the employer within a further two weeks.
If you want compensation for termination of employment or dismissal, you must notify your employer within four months and then apply for a summons of the employer within another four months.
If your trade union concludes a negotiation with your employer, you must ask to be informed of this in writing on the same day. You must also request written notice of whether or not the trade union intends to pursue the matter in court.
How the time limits are calculated
1. From the date on which you received notice of dismissal or termination – provided that the notice contains a description of how you, as an employee, can initiate proceedings for annulment or compensation, should you wish to do so.
2. In the absence of such a description, the time limit is instead calculated from the final day of employment.
3. If negotiations are in progress with your trade union, the time limit is calculated from the date the negotiations are concluded.
