Social aspects of a work-life were cited more important than the financial incentive for women to return to work, according to a new survey.
The data collected also showed that almost eight in 10 women going back to work after a career break or maternity leave are in non-managerial roles and just five percent are senior managers or directors.
The survey was commissioned by New Ireland Assurance in conjunction with Eumom and all the women who part-took have recently returned to work or currently are on maternity/career leave.
It might not come as a surprise that the two top concerns listed for three-quarters of the 1,375 women surveyed when returning to work were, work/life balance and childcare arrangements.
Half of the women who participated in the New Ireland Assurance survey noted working arrangements as a concern.
Eight in 10 said flexible working arrangements would smooth their transition back to work and many were in favour of an 'easing in' process to help their return to work.
Better communication from employers prior to returning to work would make it easier for one in four of the women asked.
"After a career break or maternity leave, both men and women should feel supported throughout the process by their employer," said New Ireland Assurance HR head Oonagh Kelly.
"The research shows an appetite for employees to be kept in the loop before coming to work.
"It is up to employers to find out directly from colleagues what their concerns are and how they can be supported more throughout this process."
Earlier this year, Eurostat confirmed Ireland's satisfaction with affordable childcare was one of the worst in Europe.
The report, published in February found that 38 percent of Irish parents listed financial worries as a primary reason why families did not make more use of formal childcare services for children under 12, which places Ireland third-worst behind Cyprus at 40 percent and Spain at 52 percent.
By comparison, in Sweden and Denmark, only one percent of households felt their finances held them back from accessing childcare.
