The Impact of Social Support and Bereavement in the Workplace
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Cheryl Gray
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 12:45 PM
End Date
26-4-2024 1:44 PM
Description
Bereavement has been shown to impact cognitive functioning, concentration, decision quality, and increases stress and social withdrawal (Stroebe et al., 2001; Shulman, 2018). Social support is a psychological resource important to well-being that moderates the relationship between bereavement and work outcomes (Fisk, 2023, Freidin, 2022, Mathieu et al., 2019). The purpose of this research is to better understand mechanisms of how organizational policy and social support can be unhelpful for those experiencing grief or bereavement. Data was collected on organizational policy and interpersonal helpfulness. Participants were working adults recruited through Prolific (N=199), who took a Qualtrics survey, who lost a loved one in the past 5 years. Content analysis was conducted by three researchers and themes were identified for six qualitative questions. Themes are mostly identified. Data was coded for what participants wished their organization would have done differently, what colleagues and organization did that was helpful and what was well-intended but unhelpful. Participants often wished for ‘More time given’, ‘Less work stress’ (i.e. lighter workload in transition back, covered work while away) ‘More compassionate work environment’. Helpful actions from peers included ‘Gave token of support’ (i.e. flower, card) and ‘Alleviated work pressure’ (i.e. covered job responsibilities). Well-intentioned unhelpful actions included ‘Gave token of support’, ‘Expressing toxic positivity’, ‘Provided shallow condolences’. Some unhelpful actions paralleled negative actions, participants' perceptions of helpfulness varied. Final frequency analyses will be reported of themes, analyzed and interpreted. Implications will help organizations better support employees after a loss.
The Impact of Social Support and Bereavement in the Workplace
Bereavement has been shown to impact cognitive functioning, concentration, decision quality, and increases stress and social withdrawal (Stroebe et al., 2001; Shulman, 2018). Social support is a psychological resource important to well-being that moderates the relationship between bereavement and work outcomes (Fisk, 2023, Freidin, 2022, Mathieu et al., 2019). The purpose of this research is to better understand mechanisms of how organizational policy and social support can be unhelpful for those experiencing grief or bereavement. Data was collected on organizational policy and interpersonal helpfulness. Participants were working adults recruited through Prolific (N=199), who took a Qualtrics survey, who lost a loved one in the past 5 years. Content analysis was conducted by three researchers and themes were identified for six qualitative questions. Themes are mostly identified. Data was coded for what participants wished their organization would have done differently, what colleagues and organization did that was helpful and what was well-intended but unhelpful. Participants often wished for ‘More time given’, ‘Less work stress’ (i.e. lighter workload in transition back, covered work while away) ‘More compassionate work environment’. Helpful actions from peers included ‘Gave token of support’ (i.e. flower, card) and ‘Alleviated work pressure’ (i.e. covered job responsibilities). Well-intentioned unhelpful actions included ‘Gave token of support’, ‘Expressing toxic positivity’, ‘Provided shallow condolences’. Some unhelpful actions paralleled negative actions, participants' perceptions of helpfulness varied. Final frequency analyses will be reported of themes, analyzed and interpreted. Implications will help organizations better support employees after a loss.