Effect of the Norwegian agreement on a more inclusive working life on use of sick leave and pregnancy benefits among pregnant women: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND

We aimed to estimate the effect of the voluntary Norwegian Agreement on a More Inclusive Working Life (IA Agreement) on use of sickness absence (SA) and pregnancy benefits among pregnant women.

METHODS

Pregnant women (n = 112,486) with a birth during 1.12.2003-31.12.2010 were followed from 6 to 37 gestational weeks in a continuous time multistate model with the following states: work, full SA, graded SA, pregnancy benefits, maternity leave, and other. Women working in IA companies were compared to those in non-IA companies regarding incidence and duration of SA and pregnancy benefits. Differences between groups with respect to calendar year, age, civil status, education, industry, and number of employees in the company were adjusted for using inverse probability of treatment weighting. Absolute differences in probabilities over time, expected length of stay (ELOS) in each state and differences in ELOS between IA and non-IA were calculated. 95% confidence intervals (CI) were generated using bootstrapping (1,000 repetitions).

RESULTS

Adjusted analyses suggest that women working in IA companies were more likely to be in full SA in the first and last trimesters, but less likely between 14 and 28 weeks, than those in non-IA companies. The probability of being in work mirrored this, with women in IA companies tending to spend half a day more in work (ELOS difference 0.55, 95% CI -1.79, 3.02). Differences were not statistically significant. The use of graded SA was slightly higher (ELOS difference 0.46, 95% CI -0.87, 1.72) and the use of pregnancy benefits slightly lower (ELOS difference - 0.43, 95% CI -1.32, 0.42) among those in IA companies compared to non-IA companies.

CONCLUSIONS

Women in IA companies tended to spend more time in work and graded SA, but less time on pregnancy benefits. Differences in full SA varied during pregnancy and were most positive mid-pregnancy. This indicates that IA measures could be more effective for conditions experienced at this point. However, effects were small and not statistically significant, which may indicate the IA Agreement has not focused much on pregnant women.

KEY TERMS: IA Agreement, MBRN, MoBa, multistate models, pregnancy, pregnancy benefits, sickness absence, work participation.