Research reveals: Israelis work more, are more stressed and sicker | without me

This morning in "Maariv" are published for the first time the results of a study conducted by the Institute for Safety and Health (Mosal), which reveals the index of sick days and vulnerability among Israeli workers in 2022.

The cost of living in Israel directly affects the working public in Israel, who work longer hours and in more jobs, are more stressed and are also more exposed to occupational diseases. 12.9% of the respondents reported that they work more than 50 hours a week.

Of these workers, 26.5% report high stress compared to 22% of all respondents, and 19.8% of them smoke compared to 13% of all respondents. The World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization defined working over 55 hours per week as being associated with the risk of heart disease and stroke, so this is a worrying figure.

The cost of living caused Israeli citizens not only to work more hours, but also to find additional work. 14.5% reported that they work at more than one workplace, compared to 10.1% the previous year. 24.4% of the workers in two jobs reported an injury, compared to 18.9% in the others. 28.5% of them also reported high mental stress.

According to Mosel CEO Dr. Mickey Winkler: "Israeli workers work longer hours and are more exposed to occupational diseases related to stress, burnout and skeletal and muscle injuries. The hours of work and rest of the employees must be observed in order to improve their health and well-being in the workplace."

Dr. Yossi Rahamim, an expert in labor law at the Faculty of Law of the Ono Academic College, adds: "Breaks throughout the work day and days off during the month – may reduce burnout and increase productivity."

As for the professions in which the most employees went on sick leave, about 20% of these employees were injured during work – an injury that caused the loss of working days. The types of injuries that led to absence from work are varied: about 12.5% reported absence due to mental stress, chest pains or dizziness, 6.5% were absent due to a physical injury or a cut, 6% reported absence due to breathing difficulties, 4% were absent due to musculoskeletal injuries.

The security, emergency and rescue workers (police, emergency services, firefighting and army) lead the absenteeism index with 32%. They are followed by welfare and social work workers with 31.7%.

In third place are agricultural workers with 28%, in fourth place are transportation and transportation workers with 27%, cleaning service workers with 26.3% absenteeism, education workers with 24.4%, followed by construction workers with 24.2%, security workers with 23.9% and communication workers with 22.4%. The top ten is actually closed by the workers of the abrasive industry (light and heavy) with 21.2% absence from work.