Benefits at SLU

Last changed: 02 January 2024

SLU offers its employees many different benefits. In order to learn more about a specific benefit, click on the respective headline below.

Wellness allowance
Holiday leave 
Reduction in hours for staff working office hours
Salaried leave
Parental pay
Occupational health services
Focus meetings
Manager and leadership development
Healthcare benefits
Sick pay
Computer glasses
Insurance
Pension
Partial pension
Exchanging salary for pension
The Job Security Foundation

Wellness allowance 

SLU employees have the right to a wellness allowance reimbursement of SEK 2,000/year. The reimbursement is based on the Swedish Tax Office’s guidelines for tax-free health promotion activities.

Learn more about wellness allowance.

Holiday leave

SLU employees earn holiday days as early as the first year of employment. The number of days depend on age:

  • 28 days up to and including the year the employee turns 29;
  • 31 days from year they turn 30;
  • 35 days from the year they turn 40.

Learn more about holiday leave.

Reduction in hours for staff working office hours

  • Twelfth Night: 4 hours;
  • Maundy Thursday: 2 hours;
  • 30 April: 4 hours;
  • The day before All Saints’ Day: 4 hours.

Learn more about working hours.

Salaried leave

In addition to holiday leave, employees can sometimes take leave without salary deduction. Salaried leave applies to the following situations:

  • moving;
  • qualifications or exams;
  • serving in the Swedish Total Defence;
  • urgent family matters.

Learn more about leave.

Parental pay

Employees who take leave for the birth of child or caring for an adoptive child have the right to parental pay.

Parental pay comprises 10 per cent of the current calendar day salary parts up to the fixed ceiling. Parental pay is 90 per cent of calendar day salary for salary parts that exceed the basic fixed ceiling.

Parental pay is payed monthly in relation to the scope of the leave. It is available for a maximum of 360 days.

Learn more about parental leave

Occupational health services

Occupational health services are an external expert function for issues related to work environment and rehabilitation. In order to prevent work-related ill health and enable employees to return to work as soon as possible after long-term sick leave, SLU has an agreement regarding occupational health for all employees. Managers and employees can make appointments in Swedish and in English. Basic services are paid for by the Division of Human Resources and additional services are paid for by the department/equivalent.

If you have any questions, please contact your HR-specialist. 

Focus meetings

SLU employees have access to an individual sounding board. The Focus meetings can take the form of evaluating your skills and development needs or individual questions/dilemmas that concern your well-being and work development. A total of six Focus meetings are allowed.

Learn more about Focus meetings.

Manager and leadership development

The Division of Human Resources offers SLU managers and leaders support and development opportunities – the division even has a specific unit for manager and leadership development. It offers training, guidance, management group development and process management support. The manager programme is compulsory for heads of department but also available to others with formal manager duties. The leadership programme is meant for those who lead groups, regardless of if they have a formal manager assignment or not. We also offer recurring training for managers who are responsible for other managers (indirect leadership), project management training as well as training for those who do not yet have the role of manager or leader but who are interested in future assignments. SLU focuses on inclusive leadership and skills that ensure a good work environment.

Healthcare benefits

Employees may be reimbursed for various kinds of healthcare. This includes medical care, dental care (surgical treatment), physiotherapy/occupational therapy, psychological treatment, hospital care and medical products. 

Learn more about healthcare benefits.

Sick pay

Employees who have been employed for at least a month or have worked continuously for at least 14 days have the right to receive sick pay during the first 14 days of the sick period. As of day 15, employees get 10 per cent of the current calendar day salary up until day 365.

More on sick pay

Computer glasses

You may receive reimbursement for an eye exam as well as computer glasses if you work in front of a screen for more than one hour per workday or need vision aids due to strenuous working positions.

More on computer glasses

Insurance

Government employees have occupational group life insurance. Most government employees are also insured against personal injury in connection with work. Business travel insurance from the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency applies.

More on our insurance.

Pension

The National Government Employee Pensions Board handles all government employee pensions. www.spv.se

Pension consists of two parts:

  • National retirement pension;
  • Government occupational pension.

Read more about pension at SLU.

Survivor’s pension

If you pass away during your time as a government employee, your surviving relatives will receive a time-limited survivors’ pension.

Disability pension

If you receive sickness compensation or activity compensation, you are eligible for government sickness pension. If you receive a decision regarding sickness compensation or activity compensation you must send a copy of the decision to the Payroll Unit.

More on pension.

Partial pension

Since 2003, all government employees are covered by the state partial pension agreement. Employers can grant partial pension if the amount of employees becomes redundant, in order to promote generation change and competence transfer.

More on partial pension.

Exchanging salary for pension

If you have an indefinite-term employment at SLU and are aged 23 or older, you can salary exchange your pension. Salary exchange means that a deduction is made on your gross salary. This money is added to your pension. It is up to you how much money is deducted, but there is a maximal and minimal limit.

More on exchanging salary for pension.

The Job Security Foundation

If you have been terminated due to redundancy or if your temporary employment runs out, you may receive help and support through transition agreements, depending on how long you have been a government employee.

The Job Security Foundation web pages.