Trends in women’s employment in Hungary, with a focus on women returning to the labour market after childbirth and maternity leave

Bencsik, Andrea – Juhász, Tímea

Keywords: women’s employment, family life and work, reintegration of women, family-friendly policy

Nowadays, the reconciliation of work and private life is a hot topic not only for families but for companies as well. The situation of women with small children is especially difficult in this respect as they have to perform two roles: they have a fundamental role in caring for the children and managing the household, while also having to contribute to the household income. Our survey was designed to look at how women coped with this problem, as well as any new methods available to employers to resolve these issues.
In our survey, 84.5% of our respondents felt that women with children were at a disadvantage in the Hungarian labour market – a thought-provoking finding. The gravest problems encountered by employed mothers included discrimination, lack of self-assurance, lack of crèche services, difficulty finding a person to care for a sick child at home, etc. On the other hand, it was found that the attitude of mothers with young children often did not automatically meet the expectations of the employer. Often, employers had to make a compromise regarding the nature and content of the job if they wanted to employ a mother. These burdens often render the reintegration of women in the labour market more difficult, which can affect their taking on a job and can prolong their inactive status.

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