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🇸🇪 Sweden /Culture & Society

Swedish workers pushed back to office: Unions warn employers risk 'shooting themselves in the foot'

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data Context piece
  • Swedish employers are increasingly recalling employees to the office after years of widespread remote work.
  • This trend, which began about 4-5 years ago during the pandemic, sees companies citing improved innovation from in-person meetings.
  • Unions warn that forcing employees back could backfire, potentially leading to resignations and negatively impacting companies.

The landscape of work in Sweden is shifting as employers push for a return to the office, reversing the pandemic-era surge in remote work. This trend, noticeable over the past four to five years, sees companies advocating for in-person collaboration, often citing enhanced innovation and creativity as key benefits.

Employers risk shooting themselves in the foot.

— Camilla FrankeliusWarning about the potential negative consequences of forcing employees back to the office.

Official statistics from SCB show that while 38 percent of employed individuals, over 1.6 million people, worked from home at least one day a week in early 2026, there's a recent decline, particularly among those who worked remotely most frequently. Major companies like Scania, Volvo, and Ericsson have reportedly faced employee dissatisfaction with mandates to return to the office.

Camilla Frankelius, chief negotiator at Sveriges Ingenjörer (the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers), warns that this push could be counterproductive. "Employers risk shooting themselves in the foot," she stated, suggesting that rigid demands might lead to employees seeking opportunities elsewhere. She also noted that some offices have not adapted well to the changes, leading to practical issues like overcrowding and poor working conditions.

There has been a shift recently where employers want their workforce back in the offices.

— Camilla FrankeliusDescribing the trend of companies recalling employees to physical workplaces.

While some may view the debate as a luxury problem for white-collar workers compared to those in essential on-site roles, the core issue remains finding a balance. Companies are urged to clearly articulate the benefits of returning to the office to ensure a smooth transition and retain their workforce.

More people are coming into the offices now than did a while ago.

— Peter MellinObserving the increase in office attendance from his position at Sodexo.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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