Absences from work in ancient Egypt

Absences from work in ancient Egypt: from menstrual leave (for men) to beer brewing

More than 3,000 years ago, the Egyptians already had concerns similar to ours: how to balance work and personal life. A surprising 3,200-year-old Egyptian tablet, preserved in the British Museum, sheds fascinating light on absences from work in ancient Egypt. And some of the reasons given to justify taking time off still make us smile today... or give us pause for thought.

An exceptional document: the Deir el-Medina ostracon

This fragment of limestone, known as an ostracon, dates from the 40th year of the reign of Ramses II. It lists the days of absence of forty workers from the village of Deir el-Medina, who were responsible for digging and decorating the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens.

Far from being a simple administrative document, it lists sick leave during this period and at this site in Ancient Egypt, making it a unique source of information about the daily lives of Egyptian workers and their relationship with time, family, health... and even beer.

Sick leave in Ancient Egypt... and much more

Among the reasons for work stoppages listed are some very traditional causes, such as:

• personal illness,

• the need to care for a sick relative,

• or the death of a family member, with the long and complex funeral rituals of embalming.

But there were other, more unexpected reasons:

• One worker was absent after being stung by a scorpion—a very real danger in desert areas.

• Others cited domestic or ritual tasks such as brewing beer, an activity so important that it justified one or more days off work.

Beer brewing: a social and sacred act

Beer was central to the culture of ancient Egypt. It was consumed by everyone, adults and children alike, and served as food, a religious offering, and a social glue.

Made from barley and fermented bread, this beer was very different from the beer we know today, with a thicker consistency. Its production was essential, time-consuming, and could justify an officially recognized absence from work.

“Menstrual leave” for men?

Even more surprising is that some absences were justified by the “bleeding” of a woman or girl. This can be seen as a primitive form of menstrual leave, not for the woman concerned, but for the man who had to take over the domestic duties during this period.

This type of absence appears frequently in the register and shows a certain consideration for family and private life in the organization of work.

Ancient Egypt, an unexpected mirror of our modern challenges?

These examples remind us that ancient civilizations already had a form of social management of work, including health, family responsibilities, and cultural practices. Far from a rigid world, the organization of work in ancient Egypt incorporated flexibility and rituals.

Between indirect menstrual leave, days off for beer brewing, and scorpion stings, these absences recorded in stone offer us a unique glimpse into the daily life of a time that we sometimes thought was very different from our own.