Värmland District Court risks a fine from the Swedish Work Environment Authority - again

On 1 September this year, the Swedish Work Environment Authority carried out an inspection at the district court.

The assessment was that there are shortcomings in the work environment that can lead to employees at the court becoming ill or injured.

During the inspection, the authority looked at, among other things, the organizational and social work environment and the district court's work to prevent and handle conflicts and abusive discrimination among employees.

Requirements list produced

One month later, on 1 October, the authority sent out a draft decision - a so-called notification - which contains a six-point list of requirements with areas for improvement.

An example of a measure developed by the Swedish Work Environment Authority is that the employer at the district court must use occupational health care or equivalent to get outside help.

"We have a policy"

According to lawyer Lars Holmgård, they are already working continuously on these issues.

- We have a policy on abusive discrimination that we follow.

And we often return to how we should treat beings, that we should have a positive attitude, he says.

Hear more about the requirements placed on the district court in the clip above.

And how lawyer Lars Holmgård views the work environment.

The district court has until 22 October to submit comments on the requirements from the Swedish Work Environment Authority.

Parallel cases

Also in the summer of 2020, Värmland District Court risked a fine - then of SEK 25,000 - for a poor working environment with too high a workload.

The Swedish Work Environment Authority then closed the case after the district court had taken measures and was to make major changes in the working method.

At the moment, another case is pending where the district court risks a fine of SEK 100,000 if they do not cope with the high workload and problems with stress among the employees.

The action period in that case expired in September and now the Swedish Work Environment Authority is planning a new inspection to see if the requirements they have set have been met.