Officerstidningen reports that around half of Swedish Armed Forces employees have at some point experienced tystnadskultur, a workplace culture in which criticism is suppressed or punished. The article cites research from the Swedish Defence University showing that the problem appears more common higher up the hierarchy, where career dependence on senior officers and fear of reputational damage make personnel less willing to speak out. The Armed Forces’ HR department is now developing an analysis tool to detect destructive leadership at units.

The piece describes employees who say criticism over work-environment problems has led to reprisals, blocked career opportunities, transfers, or public reprimands. Researchers quoted in the article argue that military hierarchy, obedience norms, and promotion systems can create especially fertile ground for silence. The consequences, they warn, include lower trust, weaker motivation, poorer productivity, health problems, and damage to recruitment and retention.

Read the entire piece in Officerstidningen.