SSAB's workers refuse to say “Good weekend” instead of “Merry Christmas”

Published December 11, 2024 at 06.03

Domestic. The state-owned steel giant SSAB has issued a controversial demand for employees: replace the greeting phrase “good Christmas” with “good weekend” because it is “inclusive”. But the workers at the factory in Luleå are not very interested in playing along with this.

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“It is important to realize that our colleagues may celebrate different holidays. December is filled with different cultural, religious and secular holidays. By using 'good weekend' or saying both, 'good Christmas and good weekend', we can ensure that everyone feels included,” writes SSAB on its intranet.

However, the initiative has been met with strong reactions – not least from the company's own workers in Luleå.

– I feel strongly that you should be able to choose what you say. If it's December, I say Merry Christmas, says Kevin Widefall, one of the steelworkers at the factory in Svartöstaden, to SVT Nyheter Norrbotten.

Several colleagues agree. Albin Strömgren, an intern at the company, believes that the call is unnecessary and says:

– I think it's a bit ridiculous. If you don't want to celebrate Christmas, you don't have to eat.

SD: “Betray our culture”
The Sweden Democrats have quickly thrown themselves into the debate and direct sharp criticism against SSAB's proposal. On its official Facebook page, the party writes:

“That a partially state-owned company like SSAB proposes to replace 'Good Christmas' with 'Good Weekend' in order to 'include' others, is nothing but a betrayal of our own culture.”

The party emphasizes that Swedish traditions should not be adapted to other cultures and concludes with a clear message: “In Sweden we say Good Christmas. Period.”

“Sweden has understood that negative”
For Expressen, the company responds to the criticism. Anna Molin, spokesperson for SSAB, says that the change aims to reflect the company's global and multicultural work environment.

– Internationally, there have been mostly positive reactions, but some in Sweden have perceived it negatively, she tells the newspaper and underlines that it is not forbidden to wish Merry Christmas.