«Absenteeism will not be solved as long as it does not have social reproach»

In five years, the disbursement of sick leave “has increased by 74%, up to 25.3 billion a year”, money, recalled Ignacio Marco-Gardoqui, paid by companies and by the General Treasury of Social Security. The economist and lawyer also gave another piece of information in his speech at the Economic Forum of Diario LA RIOJA: «In Spain there are 1.4 million people who do not go to work every day and, what is unprecedented, 22% of them do not even go to work. “He doesn’t even bother to justify it with a medical leave.”

Reversing this situation is not easy in the opinion of the speaker, who also does not explain how it is possible that “having improved health so much and having managed to extend life expectancy – Spain is the second country behind Japan in this parameter, Marco pointed out – Gardoqui–, thanks to the evident improvement in health care, let us continue with these high absenteeism rates. It will not be solved “as long as I do not have a social reproach and we say ‘hey, bitch, I do your job and you get paid (for the leave) with my taxes.”

During his presentation focused on economic aspects, he pointed out that in the last fifteen years, between 2008 and 2023, the Gross Domestic Product “has grown by a cumulative 3.1% while current spending – total spending less public investment – has increased by 27. 3%. We have managed to sustain the building (Spain) by constantly resorting to the public deficit. That is, spending more than we earn. And until when can we continue like this? It was a question that he also asked the attendees as well as another question about whether “everything we spend is necessary”, in reference to public spending. For this reason, he did not hesitate to propose “an analysis of the cost and benefit” of that money that comes out of the State’s coffers.

«Union mentality»

Another of his reflections alluded to responsibility, failure and the culture of effort. «We need to reconvert the mentality of the unions. They leave the house in the morning on the basis that there is always someone, somewhere, who has the obligation to create the job that I have the right to occupy. And that job has to be conciliable, permanent, well paid and close to my residence so as not to uproot me,” he stated. His proposal is different and “I would have to leave home thinking that there is always someone somewhere willing to take my job with the same quality of performance and a lower compensation.”

Marco-Gardoqui misses the culture of effort, especially among young people, “there is no individual responsibility and failure is never the fault of the unsuccessful person.” While success “is not rewarded and is considered offensive to others. You cannot pass without studying, salary cannot be separated from productivity, you cannot demand without contributing,” he concluded.