Why are Bricodepot, Ikea and Leroy Merlin staffed almost entirely by women in Spain?
An economic analysis of the feminisation of Spain's DIY and home décor superstores: hiring subsidies, gender quotas and their effect on the labour market.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The paradox of the big-box stores: why are there only women?
At Bricodepot, Ikea and Leroy Merlin the female workforce far outnumbers the male one, especially in customer service and décor positions. What might look like a natural trend in the sector is, according to analysis by economic commentators and workers' testimony, the result of a system of public incentives designed to encourage the hiring of women and other groups.
The business of gender quotas
Direct subsidies and tax breaks for meeting gender quotas are not an urban legend. Several Spanish regional governments and the central government have introduced rebates for companies that hire women in sectors where they are underrepresented, such as DIY or construction. The shrewd employer takes on a token female worker because it pays off: he receives public money for hiring a "diverse" profile, while the veteran worker is left with the heavy lifting and no pay rise. Reduced working hours are the perfect excuse to fit in the new hires without increasing total labour costs.
The cost to the traditional worker
The testimony gathered suggests that men who have worked in these warehouses for years see their hours cut, while the new female employees take the morning and weekend shifts, which are more visible. The result is an increasingly feminised workforce in customer-facing positions, with men relegated to the warehouse and logistics. It is also claimed that women in construction or security positions enjoy more favourable working conditions (air conditioning, no heavy lifting) for the same or even lower pay.
What no official analysis explains is why, with these incentives, productivity and service have not improved while staff turnover has soared. The awkward question is whether this is a well-intentioned equality policy or social engineering aimed at reshaping the labour market at the expense of male workers.
Related discussions in the forum
At Bricodepot, Ikea and Leroy Merlin the female workforce far outnumbers the male one, especially in customer service and décor positions. What might look like a natural trend in the sector is, according to analysis by economic commentators and workers' testimony, the result of a system of public incentives designed to encourage the hiring of women and other groups.
The business of gender quotas
Direct subsidies and tax breaks for meeting gender quotas are not an urban legend. Several Spanish regional governments and the central government have introduced rebates for companies that hire women in sectors where they are underrepresented, such as DIY or construction. The shrewd employer takes on a token female worker because it pays off: he receives public money for hiring a "diverse" profile, while the veteran worker is left with the heavy lifting and no pay rise. Reduced working hours are the perfect excuse to fit in the new hires without increasing total labour costs.
The cost to the traditional worker
The testimony gathered suggests that men who have worked in these warehouses for years see their hours cut, while the new female employees take the morning and weekend shifts, which are more visible. The result is an increasingly feminised workforce in customer-facing positions, with men relegated to the warehouse and logistics. It is also claimed that women in construction or security positions enjoy more favourable working conditions (air conditioning, no heavy lifting) for the same or even lower pay.
What no official analysis explains is why, with these incentives, productivity and service have not improved while staff turnover has soared. The awkward question is whether this is a well-intentioned equality policy or social engineering aimed at reshaping the labour market at the expense of male workers.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (48 replies).
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