In line with Japan's child-care leave law, Aimee took a year off from her job as a business coach when her son was born last year. Having recently secured a place for her son at a public day-care center, she was looking forward to returning to work. On her first day back, however, Aimee's boss called her into his office and told her that her services were no longer required.

Considering that her boss had been cooperative in furnishing the proof-of-return-to-work documents she had needed to apply for her son's day care, this came like a bolt out of the blue.

"He said he wasn't confident that I could continue to be 'a good staff member.' What I gathered from the situation is that he had hired a new woman and he no longer needed me," she says.