We’re 5 months into, what seems like, the LOOOOOOOONGEST winter, ever. March and April are tentatively hanging around the corner with the promise of Spring, but February will. just. not. END!

A double blow about February is that everyone seems to be sick.. and I don’t just mean the sniffles, we’re talking full on flu/virus/stomach flu – the stuff that comes with weeks of illness, fevers and a few hospital visits – the “good” stuff.

Fortunately, in Sweden, Parents are allowed a certain amount of time to take off to be with their children when they are sick, “Vård av Barn” or VAB, loosely translated it means “care of child”. Försäkringskassan has a whole website dedicated to it too. On the website you can let Försäkringskassan know which days you would be liked to be paid VAB from the state.Think of them as a bit like ‘sick days’ but you are responsible for letting the state know which of those days you were sick instead of your employer.

It is a well known fact, and almost a joke now, that in Sweden the majority of VAB days are taken in February and September…hence why February is known as VABruary…

summer 2015

c’mon the sun!!!!!!!!!

VAB

What is “VAB’ing” and “Vabruary”?