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Article
Pregnancy loss: A qualitative exploration of an experience stigmatized in the workplace
Journal of Vocational Behavior
  • Stephanie L. Gilbert, Cape Breton University
  • Jennifer K. Dimoff, École de Gestion Telfer
  • Jacquelyn M. Brady, San Jose State University
  • Roderick Macleod, École de Gestion Telfer
  • Taegen McPhee, Cape Breton University
Publication Date
4-1-2023
Document Type
Article
DOI
10.1016/j.jvb.2023.103848
Abstract

Pregnancy loss is often stigmatized and is considered to be a taboo topic in the workplace, causing employees to suffer in silence. Yet, pregnancy loss is unequivocally a workplace issue – it can occur at work and influence work outcomes, such as performance, job attitudes, and employee wellbeing. Unfortunately, there is little research examining the intersection between work and pregnancy loss, leaving employers with little evidence-based guidance on how to support employees during and after pregnancy loss. The purpose of this qualitative study of working women (N = 29) is to provide insight into the ways by which work influences, and is influenced by, employees' physical and psychological experiences of loss. We utilized a phenomenological approach which revealed 12 themes that were temporal in nature and represented the interconnectedness of work and pregnancy loss. Themes related to the pre-loss experience (pregnancy experiences), loss experience (healthcare; physical health; psychological health; partner's experiences; loss disclosure; memorialization), short-term post-loss experience (work leave; workplace support; stigma), and long-term post-loss experience (return-to-work; shifts in perspective and identity). These results revealed that pregnancy loss experiences unfold over extended periods of time and across domains, involving the interaction between work, family, and healthcare systems. Findings are interpreted through the lens of bioecological systems theory and boundary theory, and illustrate the criticality of supportive workplace practices, such as return-to-work accommodations, bereavement support, and leave options, in supporting employee health and work outcomes.

Funding Sponsor
Cape Breton University
Keywords
  • Employee bereavement,
  • Grief in the workplace,
  • Pregnancy loss,
  • Qualitative analysis,
  • Reproductive loss
Comments

This article originally appeared in Journal of Vocational Behavior, Volume 142, 2023. The article can also be found online at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2023.103848.

Citation Information
Stephanie L. Gilbert, Jennifer K. Dimoff, Jacquelyn M. Brady, Roderick Macleod, et al.. "Pregnancy loss: A qualitative exploration of an experience stigmatized in the workplace" Journal of Vocational Behavior Vol. 142 (2023)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jacquelyn-brady/1/