Absenteeism in the UK: A comparison across genders

We analyse an empirical model of absence from work based upon a variant of the traditional work-leisure model of labour supply. The model is tested wi th data from the 1993 UK Family Expenditure Survey and a comparison of abse nteeism is made across genders. We find substantial differences in the prob ability of absenteeism across gender and various family situations. We also find that our conclusions concerning gender differences in absenteeism are sensitive to the definition of absenteeism used and that the differences i n the determination of these measures may help to explain some of the exist ing disagreements in the literature.