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Workplace Presenteeism, Job Substitutability, and Gender Inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Ghazala Azmat
  • Lena Hensvik
  • Olof Rosenqvist

Abstract

This work explores how the parenthood wage penalty is partially explained by an increased within-couple gap in job uniqueness (that is, the within-establishment substitutability of workers). Uniqueness is rewarded with higher wages, but it requires worker presenteeism (that is, the lack of unpredictable work absences), which entails a higher cost of childbearing. Using a within-couple event study approach, we show that after the arrival of the first child, women take more days of absence than men, and their likelihood of holding jobs with low substitutability decreases. We find that 15 years after childbearing, the male–female gender gap in holding a (higher-paying) unique job increases by six percentage points. The results suggest that structural changes towards greater work flexibility, making it less costly for workers in unique jobs to not be present, can help to reduce the parenthood wage penalty.

Suggested Citation

  • Ghazala Azmat & Lena Hensvik & Olof Rosenqvist, 2025. "Workplace Presenteeism, Job Substitutability, and Gender Inequality," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 60(4), pages 1435-1457.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:60:y:2025:i:4:p:1435-1457
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.1121-12014R2
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    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/60/4/1435
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    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. repec:hal:journl:hal-03383112 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Rita Ginja & Arizo Karimi & Pengpeng Xiao, 2023. "Employer Responses to Family Leave Programs," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(1), pages 107-135, January.
    4. Azmat, Ghazala & Boring, Anne, 2020. "Gender Diversity in Firms," IZA Policy Papers 168, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Boring, Anne & Brown, Jennifer, 2024. "Gender and choices in higher education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    6. Katarzyna Miszczynska & Elzbieta Antczak, 2023. "The Determinants of Presenteeism in Selected European Countries- Modelling from Geographical and Gender Perspectives," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 255-280.
    7. Koopmans, Pim & van Lent, Max & Been, Jim, 2024. "Child Penalties and the Gender Gap in Home Production and the Labor Market," IZA Discussion Papers 16871, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/1ta425q4ev9o6a76uep4hjlunc is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Julian V Johnsen & Hyejin Ku & Kjell G Salvanes, 2024. "Competition and Career Advancement," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 91(5), pages 2954-2980.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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