What Reality Looks Like in the Private Sector
Imagine yourself working in a private company, and the country enters a state of emergency. You are asked to stay home, but unlike public sector employees, you are uncertain about what awaits you regarding your salary. In practice, you find out that the relevant laws require you to be absent from work for at least ten days to be eligible for any compensation, and that's only if you meet additional conditions.
What the Laws Actually Say
In Israel, during a state of emergency, there are two main frameworks for unpaid leave: one for the public sector and one for the private sector. Public employees receive 100% of their salary even if they do not go to work, whereas private sector laws dictate entirely different conditions. Private sector employees must be absent for at least ten consecutive days to be eligible for any compensation, and in many cases, the compensation ranges from only 40% to 70% of the regular salary. These are significant gaps that create inequality between the sectors, especially when dealing with the same situations of war and emergency damages.
When It's Relevant — Checklist
- ✓You work in the private sector
- ✓You had to miss work due to an emergency
- ✓You haven't reached agreements with your employer about pay
- ✓You were absent for less than ten consecutive days
- ✓You are concerned about the impact of the sector gaps on your salary
The Specific Law That Applies
The Women's Employment Law addresses situations where workers are forced to miss work due to war or another emergency. The law defines the rights and obligations of workers and employers, but unfortunately, there are significant differences between the public and private sectors. Private sector employees are required to be absent from work for at least ten consecutive days to be eligible for any compensation, and these differences can significantly affect the final payment.
Questions Everyone Asks — And No One Asks the Lawyer
Real Situations — Which Side Are You On?
- Ronit is an accountant in a private company and had to miss work due to movement restrictions. She is not eligible for full pay because she missed less than ten days.
- Yossi is a public sector employee who had to stay home during a war. He receives 100% of his salary even without working.
- Dana works in a high-tech company and had to be absent due to an emergency, but she reached an agreement with her employer for full compensation.
What to Do Right Now
The first step you should take is to check your agreements with your employer about working conditions and pay during an emergency. If you ignore the situation, you might find yourself with significantly reduced pay and a lack of economic rights.