Be more “inclusive” and refrain from wishing your colleagues a merry Christmas. That’s the advice state-owned company SSAB is giving to its employees. Now the Sweden Democrats are reacting to the statement. “In Sweden, we say merry Christmas”, the party writes on social media.

“As the winter holiday approaches, it is common to wish everyone a ‘Merry Christmas.’ However, this season is rich in celebrations from different cultures and religions. To include several different types of celebrations, we can instead say ‘Happy Holidays’.”

It is on December 1 this year that SSAB, through its intranet, urges employees to, for diversity reasons, avoid wishing each other a “merry Christmas”. Instead, they are suggested to say, for example, “happy holidays”.

The advice comes from Carrie Krauss at SSAB’s global inclusion and diversity committee. She is said to be an “expert” on DEIB; matters related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

The post has then been posted on the company’s intranet by the company’s communicator Caroline Modorato-Rosta.

Sweden Democrats react

Now the Sweden Democrats are reacting to the steel giant’s urging to its employees. The party writes on social media that:

“We live in a time where we should very much cherish Swedish culture and our traditions. For a partially state-owned company like SSAB to suggest replacing ‘Merry Christmas’ with ‘Happy Holidays’ to ‘include’ others, is nothing but a betrayal of our own culture”, and:

“We should not adapt to those who do not share our traditions; those who are here should instead show respect for the Swedish Christmas and our cultural heritage. In Sweden, we say Merry Christmas. Period.”

On Monday, Samnytt speaks with SSAB’s press chief Gunilla Hjalmarson, former press chief for Stefan Löfven’s government office. She then says that she does not have time to talk because she is in a meeting, and refers to her colleague Anna Molin.

Samnytt subsequently contacts both Molin and Hjalmarsson on several occasions, by both phone and email. None of them respond. Samnytt also contacts Caroline Modorato-Rosta.