Facebook View: Women's 'sick days'

Employment and Manufacturer's Association chief executive Alasdair Thompson has been in the news for saying one reason women weren't paid as much as men was because they took "sick days" once a month and took time off to have babies. We asked on Facebook what our readers thought of this.

Hemi Waerea i think you just opened up a can of worms. can thompson say that all women take sick days and all women have time off to have babbies? probably not. im pretty sure men take sick days too and that they are eligible for maternity leave if the...y choose to stay home with a newborn. im sure there are single fathers out there that take sick days or days off to look after their kids as well. im living in a country now where pay parity is unjust and unfair and is based on sex and ethnic background. is that what nz wants to be known for?
Fiona Ross likes this.
Lisa MacFarlane I'd like to see the evidence/research he based that statement on and how many of those employers surveyed were male. I wonder because there's an obvious correlation between position within the organisations heirachy and salary, therefore likely a huge bias if in fact he did base it on research from employers. Sounds like he is using poor quality information to me.
Leanne Martinovich I think the guy is a plonker and needs a reality check!!! The economy isnt that FABULOUS that women can stay home with children and have babies and the like. And as for taking time off once a month, I would imagine that would be a minority of a minority. WAKE UP YOU MALE CHAUVINISIC PIG!!!
Kiri Gillespie That is the biggest loaf of bs i have heard! I know far too many woman that 'tough out' whatever ailment they have while guys have gone home at the slightest sniffle. Pfft!
Lisa Adlam I would say that Alasdair Thompson is a sexist git, with no idea, and for the record if women do take time off for sick children then guess what fool sometimes those sick kids grow up to be working MALES! what a dimwit, the reason females get paid less is due to residue preindustrial sexist societies that did not recognise the ability woman workforce but hey they did alright during the war era!
Hamiora Werahiko Very disappointing and regrettable comment coming from someone in Alasdair's position, wake up my man i'm sure they are not sentiments shared by the women board members or general female members in the EMA? However perhaps all the women mem...bers are off having babies or it's just that time of the month so their voice is absent in this debate. Very loose connection between 'absences' and 'pay' I hope not having heard the radio interview that this gem was at the bottom of your list of reasons...See More
Lisa MacFarlane likes this.
Lisa MacFarlane lol @hamiora too true.
Natalie Richards Disappointing korero! I know of a workplace full of males, where there are about 2 or 3 who have 'Monday-itis' almost every Monday. Now, I'm not gonna go around saying that all males have Mondays off because they're actually hung over.....I think he needs to probably wake up and get with the times. What a dropkick!!
Kezza Hebberley I was totally pissed off about it at the time but I am a lot calmer now. Bloody cheek  ... I have been in the same job for nearly 26 years, raised my kids on my own without resorting to any benefits ... and I've been a damned h...ard worker, both in and out of the workplace. I have never had a day off just because it's THAT time of the month but yep ... a wee sniffle or a knee injury from Saturday rugger and some males I am acquainted with need a lie-down in front of the telly with their partner waiting on them hand and foot for DAYS. Jeesh, get your facts straight!
Kezza Hebberley PS: And I DESERVE my equal pay, every last damned cent of it! Right, rant over ...
Kim Pears The gender pay gap is not ok. Equal pay legislation dates back to 1972 and it will be DECADES before equality is reached if the pace of change stays the same. Stop trying to cause a distraction from the real issue, Alasdair Thompson and instead put your energies into tackling this disgraceful and long-standing inequality.
Natalie Richards Um, if anyone saw him on TV3 on Campbell Live ......Mihingarangi Forbes was interviewing him, well that interview right there, should be enough to have him sacked. He is a complete loser!!!! Looked all aggro and was fully trying to intimidate her!!!!!
Shaun Ellis Are Mr Thompson's comments purely driven by chauvinism or possibly a wider contempt for people in general from somebody who might be a member of the Employers and Manufacturers Association? Mr Thompson I would hazard to guess has made this... generalization completely without factual basis, but rather based on a belief of being part of some self appointed anointed elite ruling over the peasantry. In short, the man is a pig, oink oink.