The effect of occupational and workplace gender composition on sickness absence.

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether gender composition of the occupation or the workplace is associated with sickness absence, whether the gender composition accounts for the observed female excess in sickness absence, and whether gender composition explains variation in sickness absence rates between occupations and workplaces.

METHODS

Random effects models conducted among Helsinki employees (N = 36,395).

RESULTS

Women and men working in women-dominated occupations and workplaces had more short-term (1 to 3 days') sickness absence. Gender composition of the occupation and the workplace partly explained gender differences in short-term but not in intermediate (4 to 14 days') and long-term (>2 weeks') absence. Gender composition also explained variation in short-term sickness absence among occupations and workplaces, but this was partly accounted for by social class, income, and job contract type.

CONCLUSIONS

The results are consistent with the assumption that short-term sickness absence reflects cultures and norms shaping sickness absence behavior.