Are you thinking what I'm thinking? : an exploratory study on the attitudes of pregnant employees and co-workers towards workplace pregnancy.

• Main Authors: Chew, Alicia Jing Yi., Goh, Xin Lei., Tan, Hwee Hoon.
• Other Authors: Stewart Lloyd Arnold
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Business::Management::Personnel management
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/15237
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In this qualitative research, we aim to study the attitudes of Singaporean pregnant employees (PEs) and co-workers (CWs) towards pregnancy in the workplace. Additionally, recommendations from these employees which organisations can adopt to create a positive work experience will be explored. Data was collected from 24 interviewees and 38 online forum participants. Interview findings suggest that pregnant employees’ (PEs) attitudes are influenced by the support and behaviours displayed by organisations and co-workers. Conversely, co-workers (CWs) base their attitudes on workload rearrangements and previous working relationship with their pregnant colleagues. Our forum findings shed a different perspective: female employees have the liberty to prioritise between family and career but they will have to bear the consequences of their choice. Recommendations by employees include hiring of temporary help, allowing for flexible working hours and open communication channels. The implications, limitations and future direction for our research will also be discussed.