This study investigates the challenges faced by new mothers returning to work in the Indian Information Technology sector, focusing on how they navigate conflicting accountability demands while maintaining their status as professionals. Employing hermeneutic phenomenology, we conducted in-depth interviews with 32 returning mothers. Our findings reveal that organizational challenges, including unfavourable policies, insensitive management, and limited support systems, significantly impact their return-to-work experiences. These challenges, coupled with societal expectations and internal pressures, create heightened accountability conflicts, manifesting in emotional distress, cognitive dissonance, and behavioural adaptations. To navigate these challenges, women employ various strategies, such as reinforcing their work identity, regulating emotions, and accessing support systems. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the critical role of accountability in shaping the experiences of returning mothers, introducing novel dimensions of temporality and self-accountability, and offering practical implications for improving organizational support and advancing gender diversity initiatives.
