A recent, highly publicized case is a reminder of how important it is for employers, as well as certain individuals representing the employer, to be aware of their responsibilities under the work environment regulations and to take the necessary measures. An employee who suffered from mental illness took his life shortly after he had received a notice of planned summary dismissal. The court held that two senior managers had failed in fulfilling their obligations related to the work environment (inter alia, to consider the possibilities to adapt the work conditions and to conduct a full investigation related to the employee’s social issues at the workplace). However, in this specific case, the court ruled that the managers had not been negligent to the extent that their conduct constituted criminal negligence pursuant to the applicable work environment regulations. Therefore, they were not found individually responsible for the death of the employee.
Sweden