Women may need more mental health days…05 Nov 2007 08:32 am
Work-Life 
UPDATE
Did you call in sick today?
If you’re a woman, you’re twice as likely to answer yes to this question than a man.
Turns out women take sick days more often than men in the workplace. I address the phenomenon in my MSNBC column today.
For decades now, women have been more apt to take advantage of their sick time but no one is quite sure why. Yes, yes, it is probably the working mom thang, but there is more to it than that because women without kids also call in more often than men.
What do you all think? What’s going on? Are we just more sickly, or more smart?
Hey guys, a great blogger, Elana Centor, blogged about my story at BlogHer. She made some great points.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:30 am
i think mental health days are important. i can take drugs to feel better when sick, but sometimes the only way to get over a stupid co-worker or boss is to just take a day off!!
November 7th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
The reason may be more easily explained by examining the behaviors and motivations of men. It may be an old stereotype (which could be accurate in this case), but I believe most men take fewer days off (for whatever the cause) because a) they don’t want to appear weak, and b) because they associate better attendance with having a better chance for reward (e.g., advancement, pay increase, et. al.).
Hey, I’m a guy. I took three hours off yesterday to sit in on a specialist appointment for my infant son. I was there to support my wife more than I felt a need to be at the appointment for my own understanding (I’ve already done my homework on the condition we’re facing). Although my employer allows for paid time off for such events, I chose to work longer hours for the rest of the week rather than to log that time as “time off with pay”. Why? I don’t want to be viewed as someone who uses too much of that paid time off, even if my usage is within the defined allowance given by the company. I wrangle with the concept of not wanting to appear weak–I look at it as wanting to appear better than average (especially with year-end reviews ahead of me).
Well, that’s this guy’s insight.
November 7th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
What? Did everyone else call in sick today?
November 7th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
You know, I’m a bit under the weather today, BUT STILL WORKING.
Wow HikingStick, you’re are great to be so honest about your thoughts on this. I really think you’re onto something. Men have that added pressure of having to look strong.
We all wrestle with this issue in the workplace, men or women. We want our bosses to know we can do the job, especially at review time.
My next book may look at this issue and you’d be a great subject for the book, you and your wife, and how you guys make it all work.
cheers!
January 21st, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I think it goes back to the fact that men and women think differently. Women are more apt to stay at home if they’re are feeling depressed. Where men will “suck it up” and on to work.