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oai:figshare.com:article/32641311 2026-10-01T16:24:13Z portal_1172 item_type_8 month_year_10_2026

Maternity-related employment transition experiences of mother-workers situated within the meso-level context of the organisation Caroline Millar (24169923) PUREID: 641888297 life course theory employment pregnancy maternity leave return-to-work maternity transitions trajectory mother-worker identity development meso-level context Background: Discrimination during pregnancy is acknowledged to be a worldwide phenomenon (Kachi et al. 2022) and endemic within the UK (Gatrell et al., 2024). Research has established macro sociological factors and has explored mother-worker career outcomes as the consequence of individual choice, but the role of meso-level organisational context has been largely ignored until recently (Berger, 2022; Torres et al, 2024). <br>Objective: To explore meso-level stakeholder perspectives related to maternity employment transitions within three case study organisations to understand how these impact mother-worker experience. <br>Methodology: Semi-structured life course interviews with 18 professional mother-workers who returned to the same organisation after maternity leave within the previous one to five years. Further semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken to garner relevant contextualising maternity related perspectives of the HR Leader and Trade Union representative(s). <br>Results: Pregnancy, maternity leave, and return-to-work were regarded as discrete phases of employment. The case study organisations honoured statutory obligations to mother-workers related to pregnancy and maternity leave. Policies and protocols were considered sufficient, robust, and well-established. In line with the absence of statutory guidance, employers did not actively manage women during maternity leave or return-to-work. During maternity leave women relinquished worker identity and developed a socially coherent mother identity, subsequently they negotiated return within the line manager dyad. This often resulted in informal arrangements which eroded confidence and bargaining power. <br>Originality/ value: Meso-level organisational culture significantly influences individual agency related to mothering and working. <br><br><i>Thesis embargoed until 31st July 2030</i> 2026-10-01T16:24:13Z Text Thesis 10.17034/32641311.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Maternity-related_employment_transition_experiences_of_mother-workers_situated_within_the_meso-level_context_of_the_organisation/32641311 All Rights Reserved Open Access after 2030-07-31