Essay
article review
- Module
- Hr402
- Institution
- The University Of Strathclyde (UOS)
Article Review in the HRM context
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The aim is to critically review an article by Mastekaasa et al (2021) entitled ‘Genderdifference in sickness absence: do managers evaluate men and women differently
concerning the appropriateness of sickness absence?’. This article published by the
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health provides insight into whether managers exhibit
gender bias in evaluating the appropriateness of sick leave. Using vignettes, to measure
attitudes towards sickness absence. This study perpetuates that managers’ sickness
evaluations are not influenced by gender stereotypes. Also showcases that managers were
more restrictive than non-managers regardless of gender. In this article, many limitations
hinder the potential this study could have in this area, such as self-selected samples,
conditions of the examination and unable to access details of the medical situations. To
analyse and critique the limiting factors of the study in its setting, methods, and suggestions
to allow the potential fulfilment of the study.
The Scandinavian Journal of Public Health is a peer-reviewed journal that aids public health
provisions by providing research conducted in Scandinavian settings. A peer-reviewed
journal ensures high-quality levels of research and validity. Providing key points for teaching
public health and insights to review topical issues in public health (Sage Journals).
Additionally, this journal concerns public health whereas this article focuses on the work
organisation which is not its main agenda. However, the author, Mastekaasa is a sociologist
who focuses on fields such as labour markets, so therefore an appropriate author but could
have been further advanced with a different journal that focuses more on employment
relations or occupational health. Having a focus on the individual and collective relationships
in the workplace to determine gender biases from managers.
Statistics show that the group with the highest rate of sickness in 2022 consisted of women,
older workers, those with long-term health conditions, part-time workers and those working
in care (Compton and Leaker, 2023). Where part-time workers consistently have higher
absences than full-time workers. Part-time workers are predominantly women too. It
ponders the thoughts that what is it about women’s health in the workplace? And what are
the persistent issues? This study addresses the biases as a result of women's absence. But
not the core issue as to why it is this way. Acknowledging that the difference between men's
and women's absence is not well understood but can be suggested through family-related
, responsibilities and pregnancies – but these factors only account for a minor part. More
research is needed here to come to a better comprehensive conclusion. Regarding both why
the issue exists and if biases fall as a result. Analysing gender bias is a topic of interest as
suggested by Cohen and Huffman (2003) there is a tendency to devalue women’s work due
to biases that are predisposed in society.
This article delves into an area of literature that is niche and not well reported on. There are
variations in studies such as GP-patient gender interaction. Additionally, the author lists
many other similar studies but none that hit the nail on the head on their niche, to
emphasise how understudied it is. So, conducting effective and well-rounded research is
crucial when uncovering something new. Mastekaasa et al (2019) explained that there were
no studies in the same field. Strong arguments are evidence-based and without having that
provides cracks and weaknesses in the validity of the research. However, this article delved
deep into finding good quality journal articles to add legitimacy to their research such as
most articles being about employment and gendered sickness coming from Scandinavian
journals to emphasise their region. It is important to regard the quality of references over
the quantity of them, utilising only thirty references.
Mastekaasa et al (2019) explain the conditions that must be satisfied if gendered norms on
behalf of managers are to explain the gendered difference in sickness absence. There are
two conditions to satisfy. However, in their execution of the study they only examined one
of the two conditions to be met to explain the gender difference in sickness absence. So, it
poses the question of how comprehensive the study is going to be if it is already limited. To
develop, the second condition should have ideally been considered in this study due to the
already limited literature on this issue. Being one of the first articles developed on this niche
area and not being conducted to its full potential is disappointing for future scholars who
wish to reference and develop existing studies.
By utilising vignettes, which are brief case descriptions to measure the attitudes towards
sickness absence. They discovered that the gender of the vignette does not affect managers'
evaluation of the appropriateness of sickness absence. It concludes that managers do not
seem to contribute to the gender difference in sickness absence. It was found in a report by
the Swedish National Audit Office (2019) that women with moderate depression were sick
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