Les facteurs influençant l'utilisation des mesures de conciliation emploi-famille au moment du retour au travail à la suite du congé parental

While there has been some progress in the labour market with respect to work-life balance over the last 30 years, several issues remain. In fact, there is an incompatibility between work and family requirements, which may lead to negative consequences for the working parent upon a return to work following a parental leave.   Therefore, this research focuses on this specific period, marked by greater stress and difficulties related to work-life balance. In fact, our study focuses on the factors contributing to the work-family conflict experienced by working parents upon a return to work following a long parental leave.  More specifically, it focuses on the determinants of the work-family conflict, the work-life measures currently offered, and the impact of union presence in this perceived conflict. It also considers the work-life measures currently available to determine whether, or not, they contribute to reducing the level of work-family conflict perceived. Finally, we examine to what extent union presence facilitates the work-life balance when returning to work following a parental leave.  This qualitative study was conducted using primary data collected from eleven voluntary working parents on parental leave or others that have recently returned to work upon the parental leave. This study highlights the difficulties that working parents are anticipating and experiencing when they return to work, both in terms of access and use of the work-family measures offered, and due to the determinants of the work-family conflict that influence the use of the work-life measures available and their accessibility.   We also find that the labour market industry, the degree of feminization, unionization rate, the organizational culture and the characteristics of the work and family environment have undeniable impacts on the perceived work-family conflict. Our results also identify that the work-family measures offered are not sufficient and appear to be poorly adapted to the different situations of working parents to meet their specific needs. The offer of measures is therefore not sufficient to reduce the conflict experienced at the time of the return to work following a parental leave. Finally, our findings indicate that unionized groups offer better protection to working parents who want to take advantage of the work-family measures offered, unlike non-unionized groups.  In conclusion, this study contributes to the literature by focusing on the episode of the return to work following a parental leave and by identifying the impact of the union presence during this critical episode.  While there is very little specific research on these elements, this study allows a reflection on the introduction of work-family measures that make easier the return to work following a parental leave. It also serves as a reference to all employers wishing to be better equipped for work-family balance. In this sense, this research addresses the gaps in the literature on the work-family measures offered and the impact of unions for the access to work-life measures.

Keyphrases: work-life balance, work-family conflict, working parents, parental leave, return to work, union presence