Women's Rights in the Workplace Under Israeli Law

Pregnancy requires women to undergo various medical examinations, and the law accordingly grants pregnant employees the right to be absent from work for these purposes without any reduction in wages. The scope of the authorized absence depends on the employee’s work schedule: a pregnant employee who works more than four hours per day is entitled to up to 40 hours of absence throughout her pregnancy, while an employee working fewer than four hours per day is entitled to up to 20 hours. This right to paid absence also extends to employees undergoing fertility treatments. During fertility treatment, the employee may be absent from work using her accrued sick days up to the statutory maximum: 64 days per year for a five-day workweek, or 80 days per year for a six-day workweek. Furthermore, during the treatment period and for 150 days thereafter, the employee is protected from dismissal. If the employer wishes to terminate her employment, a permit must be obtained—just as with a pregnant employee. This dismissal protection applies regardless of seniority, though if the employee was not absent due to fertility treatments, the prohibition on dismissal applies only to employees with six months or more of seniority.