Returning to Work Following Spousal Loss? The Experiences of Widowed Parents

Abstract

Families with children in the home who lose a parent to death are not only faced by bereavement but quite often a whole array of other changes. One area that has so far been overlooked in research is the return to work of the surviving parent. In this online survey of widowed parents, four out of five (81.6%, n=71) had experienced changes in their working or student conditions as a direct result of losing their partner. The experienced changes were mainly seen in relation to increased sick leave, reduced working hours, redundancy, and a change of jobs. Thematic analyses of participant responses to open-ended questions resulted in four different themes: Feeling overburdened, Grief as a process, Unaccommodating workplace, and Accommodating workplace. The results of this study highlight a need for focusing on the return to work of bereaved employees who have lost a co-parent.

Opening Commentary: We Have to Talk About the “D” Word

“…Bereaved employees have higher rates of absenteeism in the year following the death and are more likely to quit their jobs or change careers. 7,8 In addition, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, loss of motivation, and shifts in priorities can reduce productivity, sound decision-making, and functioning at work and increase the risk of on-the-job injuries. 9-13 Twenty years ago, in ground-breaking research, the Grief Recovery Institute estimated that grief from the death of a loved one cost employers $37.5 billion annually, 13 which equates to $60.5 billion in today’s dollars.…”

“…Most of the research on grief in the workplace has focused on bereavement policies and the extent to which organizations accommodate the instrumental needs of grieving employees–for example, by providing bereavement leave and allowing flexible or reduced work hours as individuals adjust to their new realities. 7,21,22 Based on a U.S. Department of Labor survey, 56% of civilian workers have access to paid bereavement leave, but the benefit is linked to income: 81% of the top 10% of wage earners in the U.S. have access to the employer-sponsored benefit, compared to just 19% of the bottom 10% of earners. 23 Furthermore, the average length of bereavement leave in the U.S. is just 3 days, 24 which is inadequate to grieve a major loss.…”

Grief in the Workplace: Challenges and Solutions

“…Bereaved employees have higher rates of absenteeism in the year following the death and are more likely to quit their jobs or change careers. 7,8 In addition, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, loss of motivation, and shifts in priorities can reduce productivity, sound decision-making, and functioning at work and increase the risk of on-the-job injuries. [9][10][11][12][13] Twenty years ago, in ground-breaking research, the Grief Recovery Institute estimated that grief from the death of a loved one cost employers $37.5 billion annually, 13 which equates to $60.5 billion in today's dollars.…”

“…20 Most of the research on grief in the workplace has focused on bereavement policies and the extent to which organizations accommodate the instrumental needs of grieving employees-for example, by providing bereavement leave and allowing flexible or reduced work hours as individuals adjust to their new realities. 7,21,22 Based on a U.S. Department of Labor survey, 56% of civilian workers have access to paid bereavement leave, but the benefit is linked to income: 81% of the top 10% of wage earners in the U.S. have access to the employer-sponsored benefit, compared to just 19% of the bottom 10% of earners. 23 Furthermore, the average length of bereavement leave in the U.S. is just 3 days, 24 which is inadequate to grieve a major loss.…”

Is Online Peer Support Helpful in Widowhood? The Lived Experiences of Young Parents

“…Many women simply needed reassurance that they would weather the crisis successfully (Silverman, 2014, p. 296). While Silverman's efforts (e.g., 1972, 1986 at establishing support systems for newly bereaved individuals is admirable, it is thought-provoking that 50 years on, bereaved individuals still recount a perceived lack of social support (Granek, 2014;Holmgren, 2021aHolmgren, , 2021bHolmgren, , 2022, and in particular, they call for a community in which to grieve (Granek, 2014).…”