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Mezquiti Leal, Mayra Alejandra (2025) Returning to Work After Maternity Leave: Impacts on Productivity, Emotional Well-Being, and Career Adjustment Among Working Mothers in Ireland. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.
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Abstract
This dissertation examines the impact of returning to work after maternity leave on mothers in Ireland, focusing on productivity, emotional well-being, and career development. The research used a mixed-methods design with an online survey and in-depth interviews to capture organisational supports and personal experiences. The findings show that stigma at work, the cost and lack of childcare, and limited support from managers were the main barriers. These difficulties were strongest for migrant and low-income mothers, who often had fewer resources and less access to help. The study argues that improving mothers' experiences requires more than formal policies: real cultural change in workplaces and stronger state investment in childcare. The results are relevant for employers and policymakers who want to reduce the motherhood penalty and support gender equality in Ireland.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Supervisors: | Name Email -, - UNSPECIFIED |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Quality of Work Life / Job Satisfaction H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Classes of Labour > Women and Work |
| Divisions: | School of Business (- 2025) > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management |
| Depositing User: | Ciara O'Brien |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Dec 2025 16:23 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Dec 2025 16:23 |
| URI: | https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/9016 |
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