One of the pillars of Nordic welfare systems is the right to sickness pay. But should employees enjoy the same pay whether or not they are at work? Who decides how long a person can be off sick? What kind of contact should the worker maintain with the employer? These questions are fuelling a heated debate in several Nordic countries. We take a closer look at new measures and rules being tightened.
A close dialogue about sick leave is good, but it puts pressure on management, says Heidi Hansen (above) from the Høje-Taastrup municipality in Denmark.