Swedish Town Floats Idea Of Paid Hour Off From Work To Have Sex

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By Jacob Bojesson

A local politician in Overtornea, Sweden wants to give municipal employees in the community a paid break from work every week to have sex.

The idea behind the proposal, introduced Monday by Social Democrat Per-Erik Muskos, is to solve two problems at once. Muskos said it would both help reverse the declining birthrate in the area and help government workers find a balance between their work life and personal life.

“I think there’s a shortage of sex in many long-term relationships,” Muskos told newspaper Norrbottenskuriren. “The days are stressful and the kids are home. This could be an opportunity for some alone time.”

Overtornea is a small county in northern Sweden by the border to Finland. If passed, the paid sex break would be available to about 500 municipal employees in the county.

Swedish workers already enjoy subsidized hours for exercising. The sex break would be added to the available activities under the law for people in Overtornea.

“I think it’s a good way to use your exercise hour,” Muskos said. “There’s a skewed image of it here. In Tornedalen [the region] there’s a taboo over the [sex] topic, but there are plenty of studies showing it’s great exercise.”