Strategie slaďování pracovního a rodinného života. Kvalitativní studie

This diploma thesis explores the experiences of highly qualified women in the back-office sector of the knowledge economy who choose to remain professionally active during maternity or parental leave. It draws on the concept of structures of constraint and human capital theory, utilizing a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews triangulated with the analysis of Czech strategic documents. The results show that successful work-life balance represents individualized crisis management requiring radical time fragmentation and a targeted redefinition of household roles. By remaining professionally active, mothers primarily protect their expert know-how from devaluation and mitigate the child penalty, effectively absorbing the failures of state infrastructure and the pressure for intensive motherhood. The study also contributes to the discussion on changing gender roles and offers organizations specific recommendations for eliminating maternity bias in the labor market.