Returning to the office post maternity leave : women’s experience

Abstract

In order to answer the key research question: What is the experience of employed mothers returning to an office job post maternity leave? eight mothers were recruited for this qualitative study through purposive sampling. The participant interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide, and the data were analysed using a thematic analysis. The findings suggest that the working mothers in the study experienced a mix of emotions when returning to work after their maternity leave. The majority of the participants experienced a sense of stress, guilt, separation anxiety, or sadness from being away from their children because they felt like they were neglecting their children or not spending enough time with them. It was also noted that these working mothers faced several challenges as they juggled work and family demands. These challenges included the struggle of achieving work-life balance, dealing with an increased workload of work, and taking care of a baby, and coping with the unexpected sickness of a child. It was also acknowledged that some of the participants noted a change in their priorities after having a baby, with some suggesting that motherhood came first thus leading them to re-evaluate their work commitments. However, for some mothers returning back to work brought them a sense of fulfilment and purpose. The findings also show that emotional and mental support provided by the family members and the organisations encouraged the mothers’ return to work. While some spouses helped their wives more than others with housework, all of the participants' husbands actively encouraged their partners to return to work. The husbands’ motivation resulted in a stronger relationship for the couple, whilst providing a sense of personal fulfilment and accomplishment for the mother. All these contributed to her overall well-being and self-esteem. In relation to the organisational support, the findings suggest that the participants favoured policies such as flexible working hours and remote work, as well as the organisations understanding and supporting their work-life balance. The supportive organisation also left the mothers feeling good about working, whilst providing a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and independence.