The effects of ill health and informal care roles on the employment retention of mid-life women: Does the workplace matter?

an article by Siobhan Austen (Curtin University, Australia) published in JIR: the journal of industrial relations Volume 55 Number 5 (November 2013)

Abstract

This article uses longitudinal data to measure the effects of ill health and informal care roles on the employment chances of mid-life women, and to examine how these effects are mediated by workplace characteristics.

We find that women in jobs with lower skills/status encounter the greatest difficulty in finding accommodations for changes in their health and informal care roles. We identify an important role for paid sick leave and holiday leave in boosting employment retention.

However, we find that the positive employment effects of permanent contracts do not extend to women experiencing increased informal care roles. Additionally, we do not identify a positive link between employment retention and flexible working time arrangements.

However, we do establish a link between a preference for reduced working hours and employment cessation, suggesting that some women experience problems in achieving flexible working hours and that this causes some of them to leave work altogether.

We argue that these findings are relevant to the design of policy initiatives aimed at lifting rates of workforce participation as part of the response to population ageing.

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Use of alcohol and drugs at the workplace

a study published by the European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO) in May 2012

Alcohol and drugs represent a serious problem for a significant percentage of the working population (5%-20% of workers), especially in some sectors and occupations. Consumption of alcohol and drugs at work can have negative impacts for individuals and organisations in terms of health problems, more instances of sick leave/short-term absenteeism, reduced performance, labour conflicts, more work accidents, company image problems, and damage to equipment or products.

Public authorities and social partners in EU countries have developed national legislation and agreements banning/limiting alcohol/drug use at work, with a focus on testing practices intended to control usage at work. Public authorities and social partners have also adopted various policy measures to prevent and combat the negative effects of alcohol and drug use at work.

The study was compiled on the basis of individual national reports submitted by the EWCO correspondents. The text of each of these national reports is available here. The reports have not been edited or approved by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. The national reports were drawn up in response to a questionnaire and should be read in conjunction with it.
The UK’s report is here.

Full text of Comparative study (PDF 49pp)
Executive Summary (PDF 2pp)

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