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2007-05-03
In the fourth report of “Opinions on unions and work”, work-related privileges and benefits are illustrated. Comparisons are made with previous reports made in 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2002.
The possibility to take five minutes’ rest from work without asking for permission is a matter of course for many employees. But almost a third of the LO women cannot do that compared to only six per cent of the TCO men (white-collar workers) and SACO men (academics).
Only 28 per cent of the LO women and 41 per cent of the LO men are allowed leave of absence for one hour without having the wage deducted while more than 65 per cent of the TCO and SACO men have that privilege.
Only 18 per cent of the LO women have health care free of charge while around 40 per cent of the other groups have this privilege.
Privileges
There is a noticeable difference between men’s and women’s privileges, and the group of LO women is the less privileged. But the connection between size of wage and work-related privileges are just as apparent.
- Work privileges are important. Very limited privileges might have an influence on the individual’s life conditions and lack of freedom at work may bring about health risks, Ulla Lindqvist, LO Second Vice-President, says.
As regards the scheduling of holidays, the employees themselves now have more influence. In the year 1988, 44 per cent of the LO members could themselves decide upon the scheduling of holidays. In the year 2006, 57 per cent of the LO members consider that they themselves have the possibility to make that decision. However, this trend seems to have reversed and it is, in general, less employees who, in 2006, answer that they can decide themselves when to have their holidays compared to the year 2002.
The differences between members of LO, TCO and SACO are minor. But between women and men there is, however, the pattern that more men than women can decide themselves upon the scheduling of holidays. 49 per cent of the LO women, compared to 64 per cent of the LO men, say that they have that possibility.
Benefits
The greatest differences between members of LO, TCO and SACO are to be found when it comes to flexible working hours and staff training. Flexible working hours and staff training are less common among LO members. The number of LO members having flexible working hours has, indeed, increased from 19 per cent in 1988 to 33 per cent today. The difference is still marked between different wage groups. 31 per cent of those earning a maximum of SEK 16 000/month (approx. 1 750 Euro) have flexible working hours compared to 92 per cent of those with top 40 000 SEK/month (approx. 4.365 Euro).
Some 70 per cent of LO members as well as members of TCO and SACO have minor privileges such as free coffee and access to exercise facilities. As regards privileges of this kind, there has been an evident increase in recent years.
LO women are almost constantly the group with less work-related privileges. Free health care is one distinct privilege which is less common among LO women compared to both LO men and members of TCO and SACO.
- It is impertinent that the women of the LO national unions have least access to subsidized health care as this is the group with the worst health situation and, furthermore, the lowest wages, Ulla Lindqvist says.
Both class and sex seem to be intimately related to privileges at work.
This trend is most visible when it comes to flexible working ours, where the privileges escalate with class and sex. The women are on the lowest step of the ladder with only 29 per cent having flexible working hours. On the next step are the LO men with 36 per cent and the SACO men at the top with 81 per cent.
Privileges and benefits decisive of class and sex
In the fourth report of “Opinions on unions and work”, work-related privileges and benefits are illustrated. Comparisons are made with previous reports made in 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2002.
The possibility to take five minutes’ rest from work without asking for permission is a matter of course for many employees. But almost a third of the LO women cannot do that compared to only six per cent of the TCO men (white-collar workers) and SACO men (academics).
Only 28 per cent of the LO women and 41 per cent of the LO men are allowed leave of absence for one hour without having the wage deducted while more than 65 per cent of the TCO and SACO men have that privilege.
Only 18 per cent of the LO women have health care free of charge while around 40 per cent of the other groups have this privilege.
Privileges
There is a noticeable difference between men’s and women’s privileges, and the group of LO women is the less privileged. But the connection between size of wage and work-related privileges are just as apparent.
- Work privileges are important. Very limited privileges might have an influence on the individual’s life conditions and lack of freedom at work may bring about health risks, Ulla Lindqvist, LO Second Vice-President, says.
As regards the scheduling of holidays, the employees themselves now have more influence. In the year 1988, 44 per cent of the LO members could themselves decide upon the scheduling of holidays. In the year 2006, 57 per cent of the LO members consider that they themselves have the possibility to make that decision. However, this trend seems to have reversed and it is, in general, less employees who, in 2006, answer that they can decide themselves when to have their holidays compared to the year 2002.
The differences between members of LO, TCO and SACO are minor. But between women and men there is, however, the pattern that more men than women can decide themselves upon the scheduling of holidays. 49 per cent of the LO women, compared to 64 per cent of the LO men, say that they have that possibility.
Benefits
The greatest differences between members of LO, TCO and SACO are to be found when it comes to flexible working hours and staff training. Flexible working hours and staff training are less common among LO members. The number of LO members having flexible working hours has, indeed, increased from 19 per cent in 1988 to 33 per cent today. The difference is still marked between different wage groups. 31 per cent of those earning a maximum of SEK 16 000/month (approx. 1 750 Euro) have flexible working hours compared to 92 per cent of those with top 40 000 SEK/month (approx. 4.365 Euro).
Some 70 per cent of LO members as well as members of TCO and SACO have minor privileges such as free coffee and access to exercise facilities. As regards privileges of this kind, there has been an evident increase in recent years.
LO women are almost constantly the group with less work-related privileges. Free health care is one distinct privilege which is less common among LO women compared to both LO men and members of TCO and SACO.
- It is impertinent that the women of the LO national unions have least access to subsidized health care as this is the group with the worst health situation and, furthermore, the lowest wages, Ulla Lindqvist says.
Both class and sex seem to be intimately related to privileges at work.
This trend is most visible when it comes to flexible working ours, where the privileges escalate with class and sex. The women are on the lowest step of the ladder with only 29 per cent having flexible working hours. On the next step are the LO men with 36 per cent and the SACO men at the top with 81 per cent.