Swedish Parties Pledge to Abolish Minute-Based Management in Elderly Care Amid Uncertainty

The practice of minutstyrning, or minute-based management, in Sweden's elderly care sector has come under sharp criticism from both the elderly and care staff, prompting political parties to promise its abolition. The Social Democrats and Sweden Democrats, two major players in Sweden's political landscape, have both committed to ending minutstyrning ahead of the upcoming elections, although they have not detailed how this will be accomplished.

Lena Hallengren, a prominent Social Democrat, acknowledged the ambition to eliminate minutstyrning but admitted the lack of clarity on how to do so effectively. Hallengren emphasized that minutstyrning increases stress among care personnel, negatively affecting their ability to provide quality care. Similarly, Linda Lindberg from the Sweden Democrats described minutstyrning as restrictive, advocating instead for more flexible scheduling that allows care workers to spend additional time with elderly clients.

The practice of minutstyrning has grown over the past 30 years, correlating with the privatization of healthcare and the implementation of the Law on Freedom of Choice (LOV). Reports from the National Board of Health and Welfare indicate that the low compensation levels in the sector contribute to the persistence of minutstyrning, which is often used by employers under various terms to exert control.

The Kommunal union is actively negotiating to abolish minutstyrning in 122 municipalities where it remains entrenched. Despite widespread agreement on the negative impacts of this management style, detailed strategies for its removal remain elusive among political leaders.

This ongoing debate highlights the tension within Sweden's elderly care system between administrative control and the need for compassionate, flexible care. As election time approaches, voters await concrete proposals from politicians on how to dismantle the minute-by-minute control system that many argue compromises the well-being of both elderly citizens and care workers.