The Finnish Parental Leave System and Career Opportunities for Women in Management

This bachelor’s thesis analyzes the Finnish parental leave system and its impact on career opportunities for women in management. The aim of this thesis is to determine how the Finnish parental leave system affects the career opportunities of women in management and, through primary research, to examine in greater depth perceptions of the impacts of parental leave on returning to the labor market, career trajectories, and work-life balance. The theoretical section defines the barriers women face in the context of their careers, particularly the effects of the glass ceiling and the motherhood penalty. The subsequent analysis focuses on the specifics of the Finnish model, including the impacts of the 2022 reform, which strengthened gender neutrality and fathers’ involvement in caregiving. The thesis includes a comparison with the Czech system, also in the context of meeting the so-called Barcelona targets. The empirical section is based on qualitative research in the form of semi-structured interviews with Finnish female managers. Recommendations for HR policy are formulated based on the findings.