Chapter 35: The Impact of Disenfranchised Grief and Job Loss

Grief is a universal experience that will affect all of us in our lifetime, and most likely more than once. Grief in the workplace is often associated with the death of an employee, a traumatic accident on the job, a worker returning to work after the death of a spouse or child, or a co-worker being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Less often recognized, or not recognized at all, is the grief caused by promotions, retirement, corporate buyouts, new leadership, facility moves, corporate reorganization, downsizing, transfers, and layoffs. What is not always socially acknowledged is that assuming new roles and responsibilities, loss of relationships, changes in identity, or loss of income can evoke a grief reaction (Lattanzi-Licht, 2002; Zucker, 1999). This chapter addresses: 1) job loss as disenfranchised grief; 2) how the psychological, psychosocial, and physical health aspects of involuntary job loss impact individuals, organizations, and families; and 3) techniques to support those who have experienced disenfranchised grief through involuntary job loss.