Employee journey of Airline X cabin crew members during pregnancy, family leaves, and upon return to work
Pöllänen, Jaana (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023120534399
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023120534399
Tiivistelmä
The idea for this thesis arose from the author's personal experiences as a cabin crew member who underwent two pregnancies while employed. The primary aim was to investigate the employee journey and experiences of Airline X cabin crew members before, during, and after family leaves, with the goal of identifying areas for improvement in the employee journey.
The research focused on Airline X crew members from the disclosure of pregnancy to the employee's return to cabin crew duties. The target group for this study consisted of employees who experienced pregnancy at work during the years 2019-2023.
For this case study, the main data collection method was semi-structured interviews, with a total of seven interviews conducted. Other methods, such as observation and process mapping, were used as additional approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic and triangulate the research findings. Gathered data was analysed using thematic analysis and conceptual mapping methods.
The research determined that the role of the supervisor was crucial from the beginning to the end of the journey. Digitalization and rapidly changing work-related issues were causing concerns. The study also unveiled the significance of support from other pregnant workers throughout the journey, addressing both life and work-related issues. A number of specific areas for improvement were identified in terms of support, motivation, and communication, and concrete improvement ideas were presented.
Suggestions for further research include studying how cabin crew members can find a better balance between work and family life, given that the combination of parenthood and irregular working hours may increase fatigue and stress. Additionally, the research could be replicated with a different target group, such as pilots, undergoing pregnancy at Airline X, to study their employee journey and experiences.
The research focused on Airline X crew members from the disclosure of pregnancy to the employee's return to cabin crew duties. The target group for this study consisted of employees who experienced pregnancy at work during the years 2019-2023.
For this case study, the main data collection method was semi-structured interviews, with a total of seven interviews conducted. Other methods, such as observation and process mapping, were used as additional approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic and triangulate the research findings. Gathered data was analysed using thematic analysis and conceptual mapping methods.
The research determined that the role of the supervisor was crucial from the beginning to the end of the journey. Digitalization and rapidly changing work-related issues were causing concerns. The study also unveiled the significance of support from other pregnant workers throughout the journey, addressing both life and work-related issues. A number of specific areas for improvement were identified in terms of support, motivation, and communication, and concrete improvement ideas were presented.
Suggestions for further research include studying how cabin crew members can find a better balance between work and family life, given that the combination of parenthood and irregular working hours may increase fatigue and stress. Additionally, the research could be replicated with a different target group, such as pilots, undergoing pregnancy at Airline X, to study their employee journey and experiences.