Decisions on Re-Entering the Labour Market after the Parental Leave

Drawing on 48 biographic narratives, I examine the decisions post-1989 Czech mothers made about when and how to combine caring for children with making a living. Following identification of mothers’ motivations to return to work and to provide full-time maternal care, the analysis reveals the negative impact of post-1989 family policy. The extension of the economic inactivity of mothers conceals a situation in which they increasingly more than before perform a series of short-term odd jobs.