There is a difference of SEK 4,500 between the lowest paid wellness allowance in Boden to Kiruna municipality, which gives employees SEK 5,000 in annual wellness allowance.
This means that the municipal employees in Boden receive 90 percent less in wellness allowance than they currently receive in Kiruna.
Competition for labor
The Boden politicians' planned increase means that municipal employees will receive an increase in the wellness allowance of 200 percent.
The reason why a more generous contribution is now also promised in Boden is that the municipality wants to be a more attractive employer.
The work with H2 Green Steel's establishment of a fossil-free steel plant means that the population in Boden municipality is expected to grow to 33,000 inhabitants by 2030.
So far, the municipality of Boden has 28,128 inhabitants and is thus Norrbotten's third largest city.
"We have to scale up"
- We want the municipality of Boden to be an attractive employer, not least in this exciting time, and we therefore want to invest in raising the fitness allowance to SEK 1,500, says Claes Nordmark, chairman of the municipal board (S).
Until the turn of the year, SEK 500 still applies, you could say that the municipality of Boden has not been very generous with the wellness allowance?
- It depends on who you compare yourself with.
We now believe that we can and should scale up the wellness allowance.
The competition for labor is growing and we want you to thrive as an employee in Boden municipality, says Claes Nordmark.
In addition to a wellness allowance, the municipality also offers a wellness hour a week.
"We want the staff to train"
What do you think the increase in the fitness allowance should be enough for?
- The idea is not that the municipality should pay a full annual card at the gym, but we want to make a positive contribution.
We hope that everyone takes out the wellness allowance for some activity that suits them.
As an employer, we of course want our staff to train so that they have more stamina and feel better, says Claes Nordmark.
Behind the decision to increase the fitness allowance in 2023 is the political majority in Boden municipality, consisting of the Social Democrats, the Healthcare Party, the Center Party and the Green Party.
In the town of Boden, it was guessed between nothing to 6000 kronor. But when the people of Bodens heard what their municipal employees had received in wellness grants, many were surprised. See more in the clip.