Instead of "Merry Christmas", one can use "Happy Weekend", the company suggests.
"It's important to realize that our colleagues can celebrate different holidays. December is a month filled with different cultural, religious, and secular holidays celebrated around the world. By using 'Happy Weekend' or saying both, 'Merry Christmas and Happy Weekend', we can ensure that everyone feels included and respected, regardless of what they believe in", the company writes on its intranet according to the newspaper.
The message from the steel conglomerate has not gone unnoticed.
Internationally, there have been mostly positive reactions, but some in Sweden have perceived it negatively, says Anna Molin, press secretary at SSAB in Sweden to Expressen.
One of those who have reacted is, among others, former Minister of Employment Sven Otto Littorin:
"This is just so stupid it's stopping the clocks", he writes on Facebook, and continues:
"I was in Cairo yesterday and am in Riyadh today. In the taxi on the way to the airport, 'Silent Night' was blasting on the radio. The former Minister of Tourism naturally wished Merry Christmas eventually".
SSAB emphasizes, however, that it's not about a ban, but simply that they want everyone to feel included.
