The work versus elder-care dilemma and the law: An Israeli example

Israel Doron, Haifa University
Galia Linchitz, Haifa University

Abstract

Like other countries around the world, Israeli society is ageing. One of the implications of this social phenomenon is the growing need for informal eldercare provided by family members. The duties associated with informal eldercare places the caring family members in conflict with their duties to their employer and working place. In an attempt to resolve or alleviate this conflict, Israeli law created two specific pieces of legislation. One provides the legal right to resign with full compensation. The other provides a legal right to use up to six days of paid sick leave. This article describes the social background and the legal content of the Israeli legislation. It provides a critique of the Israeli legal situation, and explores three different viewpoints through which it could be examined. It concludes by assessing the future developments in legislation in this field, both in Israel and in other counties facing similar issues.