Now there is one less excuse for not hiring women: according to a survey conducted by business data firm HSP Hashavim of the Hilan Tech and the Trendline group, women are absent from work less than men. This phenomenon is apparently unique to Israel, while everywhere else in the Western world women miss more work than men.
HSP Hashavim attributes this statistic to the fact that women take less vacation than men, since they feel that they have less job security.
“HPS Hashavim CEO Abie Meir says that the current trend in terms of absenteeism among women in Israel began in 2002, when the country sank into recession.
‘Women were more concerned than men about losing their jobs in light of the slowdown in business, and, as a natural response, they began to be more meticulous about absences’ Meir said.
Men, on the other hand, experienced greater job security despite the recession, and there was ‘no change in their behavior patterns,’ Meir said.
The survey indicates that the main difference between men and women is in vacation absences (holiday, travel and the like): Women are substantially less likely to take vacation from work than men.
On the other hand, women are absent slightly more often than men for health reasons, either because of their own health or that of their families. This is similar to trends worldwide. (Haim Bior, “Only in Israel: Women miss work less than men,” Haaretz.com, June 14, 2007.)
Meir did not mention the fact that many men in this country serve in reserve duty which can be up to 30 days of service per year, which I’m assuming impacts on the number of days they are absent as well.
In any case, business owners take heed, and bolster your staff with women if you want to be assured that they will show up to work!
