Workplace Grief

Introduction

Delimitations

The scope of the study has been delimited by the author in the following ways. First, the study has been restricted geographically to the San Francisco Bay Area; however, differences in geography should be minimal compared to the universally profound experience associated with the death of a child. Nevertheless, company attitudes in the Bay Area may differ from that of companies outside of this area regarding their support or non-support of the grieving employee. Second, this study has been delimited to the sudden death of children and the particular effects on grieving parents in the workplace. While this is a very specific area of loss, it is believed that the findings can be generalized to loss of all types.

Limitations of this study beyond the author's control are as follows: The subjects will be voluntarily selected for the study. The voluntary nature of the sample may limit the observations made in this study. It is possible that the attitudes of subjects who volunteer for the study will differ significantly from those who decline to participate. Secondly, there may be other more subtle problems within the organization having an effect on the grieving employee besides those caused by the child's death. Thirdly, there may be a problem in cooperation or confidence regarding personal on-sight interviews. Defensive posturing may occur on the part of the organization as well as the parent. Lastly, there may be restricted information within Employee Assistance Programs regarding their policies and procedures for employees in crises.