The Experiences of Parents Readjusting to the Workplace Following the Death of a Child by Suicide

Abstract

Suicide among young people has become a growing concern in life in the 21st century and is a tragedy faced by an increasing number of families and in particular parents. This study set out to focus on the experiences of parents reentering the workplace following the death of a child by suicide. Although the immediate aftermath of experiencing traumatic death has been studied, we know less about the longer-term effects on life tasks such as returning to work. A sample of bereaved parents was interviewed and their responses thematically analyzed. The three major areas of experience related by parents were social and emotional aspects of readjusting to the workplace, followed by changes in cognitive, emotional and physical functioning and their changed attitudes toward work and life. Limitations of the study include the transferability of findings to other populations and to less close-knit cultures. The implications for employee adjustment and employers and co-workers' responses are considered. A fuller picture of adjustment might emerge from future studies that seek to document all parties' experiences during this period of transition.

A Study to Understand the Impact of Bereavement Grief on the Workplace

“…Most would therefore experience continuing or periodic intense mourning following the death and for some time afterward, as people can take up to 2 years to recover (Zhang et al., 2006). Some would also be emotionally distraught and physically tired for some time because of being an informal caregiver up to and perhaps also during the final dying process (Gibson et al., 2010). With only 43.8% of deaths in Canada taking place in hospital now (Wilson, Shen, & Birch, 2017), much more end-of-life care is taking place in the home.…”

“…Surprisingly, little attention has focused on the impact of bereavement grief on work, careers, and the workplace, although most people are likely to experience the death of parents, friends, and other loved ones over their work lives (Gibson, Gallagher, & Jenkins, 2010; Wilcox, Mittendorfer-Rutz, Kjeldgard, Alexanderson, & Runeson, 2015). No published or unpublished reports on the incidence of bereavement leaves from work in Canada or any other developed country could be found.…”

“…Moreover, a search for published research literature identified only four reports focused on bereavement and work. The first, an Irish qualitative study, found parents had a major readjustment to work after the suicide death of a child because of changes in their cognitive, emotional, and physical health that impacted their ability to work and also because of changes in their attitude toward work and life in general (Gibson et al., 2010). Another qualitative study, conducted in the United States and Canada, found work-related changes were common after the death of a child from cancer, including resignations from work and overwork to escape grief or catch up on work (Gilmer et al., 2012).…”

The Economic Cost of Bereavement in Scotland

“…In addition, when bereaved employees return to work they may function at a reduced level (CharlesEdwards, 2005). A study carried out in Northern Ireland, limited by its sample size of only 11 parents and only exploring one form of bereavement, suicide of a child, estimated required time off work ranged from one to 12 weeks (Gibson, Gallagher, & Jenkins, 2010). Time off work for bereavement is challenging to assess and there is a resultant paucity of research on the socio-economic impact of bereavement on individuals and businesses, with Scotland no exception in this regard.…”

Financial constituents of family bereavement

“…Even highly motivated men, who registered for work soon , did not get work quickly . A study of parents readjusting to the workplace following death of a child by suicide showed gender differences in motivation and behavior, likely to have long-term impact on their working lives and earnings (Gibson et al, 2010). Some bereaved parents needed to pursue different kinds of work, for example, when work involving children was too distressing (Harper, 2010).…”