In the autumn, employees at Systembolaget sounded the alarm about violations, harassment and a culture of silence.

SVT was then also reached by information that employees who had been bought out had been allowed to sign not to speak ill of Systembolaget in the media or social media after the employment.

The information was strongly denied by HR director Chatarina Eriksson, who said that although standard wordings on confidentiality are used regarding the content of the agreements, they denied that they would have any wording not to speak disparagingly about the company.

It would be a gag?

- Yes and we do not work, Eriksson said.

But after the interview, SVT sends a follow-up question, and now comes a new message:

"It may also happen that, in connection with a settlement, we agree that both parties shall refrain from making a degrading statement about the other party."

Systembolaget's press manager Maria Frändegård explains the writing by saying that the duty of loyalty outweighs freedom of expression, that formulations of this kind occur in the Swedish labor market and that it would not prevent anyone from alerting about misconduct.

She emphasizes that Systembolaget does not use the term "buyout" but makes "individual agreements on termination of employment".

"Unreliable" surveys

Management also receives new criticism for how to describe the work environment when referring to good results in employee surveys.

Several employees believe that the surveys are unreliable, as individual managers try to influence the answers and confront people who are suspected of answering "wrong".

The press manager replies that the survey is completely anonymous, based on research and used by many other companies.

"Obviously, the survey must be used in a correct and constructive way and we do not recognize ourselves in the picture the question describes."

Accused boss described as "spokesperson"

After the revelation that high-ranking managers were accused of violations, the management replied that they took the information very seriously and investigated it.

But at the same time, one of the designated managers was allowed to maintain a central role in handling the case.

In an email to the Ministry of Social Affairs, CEO Magdalena Gerger even described the manager as a "spokesperson" on the issue.

(See picture.)

The manager also took an active part in the media management of SVT's review.

According to the press department, however, the CEO's designation "spokesperson" was incorrect, as it was the HR director who was the spokesperson.

Both Magdalena Gerger and Chairman of the Board Göran Hägglund reject interviews.