A significant proportion of women (80%) feel guilty about returning to work following the birth of their child, with many feeling their employer will be unsupportive and discriminatory towards them.
Around two-thirds of mothers say that the cost of childcare is a barrier to them working more, findings show.
Unison is urging employers to offer greater childcare support to help encourage women back into the workforce and assist the economic recovery.
Fathers are twice as likely as mothers to feel strong resentment towards their employer over a lack of work-life balance, a report finds.