Pre‑job loss grief reactions and work attachment among sick‑listed employees : Introduction of the imminent Job Loss Scale

Background: With this study, we aimed to explore the emotional experiences of sick-listed employees facing imminent job loss, as this emotional distress may hinder successful job search outcomes. The study had two objectives: (1) to develop and validate the Imminent Job Loss Scale (IJLS) for assessing pre-job loss grief reactions and (2) to examine its relationship to work attachment. 

 

Methods: Development of the 9-item IJLS was carried out using feedback from an expert panel, consisting of five academic experts in grief and labour, five re-integration specialists, and five sick-listed employees facing imminent job loss. The psychometric properties of the IJLS were evaluated, and its association with work attachment was examined using data from 200 sick-listed employees facing imminent job loss. 

 

Results: The IJLS demonstrated strong internal consistency and temporal stability, distinctiveness from depression and anxiety symptoms, and solid convergent validity. Work-centrality and organizational commitment were positively related to pre-job loss grief reactions, while work engagement and calling showed no significant associations. 

Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into pre-job loss grief reactions and shows the potential utility of the IJLS for screening and monitoring purposes. Understanding pre-job loss grief reactions can improve the re-integration and job prospects of sick-listed employees. In future research, explorations of these dynamics should continue to provide better support to sick-listed employees during this challenging period.

Reference: 
Janske H. W. van Eersel, Inge L. Hulshof, Miriam I. Wickham, Geert E. Smid & Paul A. Boelen | 2024
In: BMC Psychology ; ISSN: 2050-7283 | 12 | march | 118
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01626-8
Keywords: 
Anxiety Disorders, Bereavement, Depressive Disorders, Employees, Job Satisfaction, Netherlands, Psychosocial impact, Reintegration, Traumatic Grief, Unemployment