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Accommodating Bereaved Parents in the Workplace: A Scoping Review
Kimberly L Schoonover1, Hemang Yadav2, Larry Prokop3
1Department of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Journal of Loss & Trauma
|August 28, 2023
Summary
Returning to work can help bereaved parents cope with grief, but supportive workplace strategies and accommodations (WSSA) are crucial. Flexibility in return dates and schedules are key WSSA for grieving employees.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Psychology
- Human resources
Background:
- Grief following the loss of a child significantly impacts parents.
- Returning to work after bereavement presents unique challenges for parents.
- Workplace support is vital for the well-being of grieving employees.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify helpful workplace support strategies and accommodations (WSSA) for bereaved parents.
- To understand the experiences of bereaved parents returning to the workplace.
- To inform the development of effective employer support systems.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases.
- Qualitative research articles published between 1990 and January 2022 were reviewed.
- Eleven studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Bereaved parents viewed returning to work as a coping mechanism or distraction from grief.
- Some parents experienced insensitive remarks from employers or colleagues.
- Key helpful WSSA included flexible return-to-work dates and modified work schedules.
Conclusions:
- Bereaved parents benefit from individualized bereavement leave and workplace accommodations.
- Supportive environments help address difficulties in meeting previous productivity demands.
- Implementing tailored WSSA is essential for supporting grieving parents in the workplace.
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