Fired in Sweden? Uppsagd vs. Avskedad

Author: Julieta Spoerer

Excerpt: Fired in Sweden? This guide explains uppsagd vs avskedad — the difference between termination with notice and summary dismissal under Swedish employment law — and how each outcome affects salary, benefits, and your next career steps.

There is no good way to get fired or lose your job in Sweden. But there are better and worse ways. In this article, we explain the difference between uppsagd (termination with notice) vs avskedad (summary dismissal) under Swedish labor law.

The Good Way: Uppsagd (Termination with Notice)

If you are uppsagd, you are technically fired but you will receive full salary during your whole notice period (uppsägningstid) and you will also have access to all other work benefits that you already have. Understanding uppsagd vs avskedad is important because being uppsagd does not necessarily mean that you’ve done something wrong.

Usually, uppsägning in Sweden is due to work or financial shortage within the company where you work; circumstances you cannot influence and that have little to do with your performance at work.

Getting fired as uppsagd is therefore not necessarily something that will affect your future employments negatively.

Note: You can get uppsagd if you repeatedly fail to meet the agreements in your contract.

The Bad Way: Avskedad (Termination without Notice)

Getting avskedad in Sweden is another story. The consequences of uppsagd vs avskedad are very different, since being fired under avsked means you have to leave your work immediately and you won’t be able to claim the right to salary or benefits.

Getting avskedad is unusual and mostly happens when you are guilty of physical abuse, threats of violence, theft, misappropriation, unfair competition, or refusal to work.

Getting avskedad is not a good thing, and it will affect your search for future employments negatively.

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