Work-Life Balance Issues of Women in Returning to Work due to Childbirth—Using TEM Analysis

Abstract

This study attempted to chart a series of events, including the difficulties women face in the workplace, the causes of problems, and the solutions to problems, using the perspective of work-life balance, which is the balance between work and life, when returning to work after a leave of absence due to childbirth. It is also wanted to identify differences by nationality and the following questions were asked: 1) “What problems did female employees face when returning to work? How were they able to overcome the difficulties?” and 2) “Do different nationalities have different factors that cause the problems that women face when returning to work?” A total of two research questions were built. The qualitative research method TEM was used, which allows the analysis of background factors in choosing methods and means to solve difficulties. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight people, four Japanese women and four Chinese women, and TEM diagrams were created for all participants. Based on those data, common TEM diagrams were able to draw for a total of 5 time periods, from the period before they all joined the company to the period after the return problem was solved. Furthermore, common return-to-work problems were found, such as “unfamiliarity with work after returning to work”, “difficulties in work-life balance”, and “inability to work overtime”. We also found differences in factors such as timing of return to work” and “the role played by other members of the family”, depending on participants’ nationality. Finally, the limited number of participants and nationality setting in this study are research limitations, and future research will clarify the generalization of the factors found and compare them in a more multinational context. Likewise, a possible future research direction is to promote initiatives that take advantage of the “understanding of supervisors and work colleagues” and “use of childbirth experience” that made it easier for women to return to work, both of which were found in this study.