Grief: perceptions of Hispanic employees

Material Information

Title:
Grief: perceptions of Hispanic employees
Series Title:
Barry University Dissertations -- School of Education
Creator:
Monserrate, Rosibel
Place of Publication:
Miami, Fla.
Publisher:
Barry University
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
x, 122 leaves ; 28 cm.

Thesis/Dissertation Information

Degree Disciplines:
Education

Notes

Abstract:
Purpose: One of the most significant challenges that may be faced by employees is the death of a loved one. Personal losses of employees can diminish their work performance and productivity, putting at risk the success of organizations. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore in-depth the living experience of grief as perceived by Hispanic male employees who had lost a loved one. Two research questions guided the study: (a) What is the living experience of grief as perceived by Hispanic male employees? (b) What influence does grief have on work performance as perceived by Hispanic male employees? Method: The inductive, qualitative research method of phenomenology was used in this study. This study included the voluntary participation of six Hispanic men who were purposefully chosen based on pre-determined criteria to participate. The following criteria were used to select the participants: First, the participants must have been Hispanic males. Second, participants must have been employed when they experienced the death of a loved one. Third, participants must have been able to articulate their experiences in English. The primary data collection method was face-to-face individual interviews. Data was also collected from other sources such as field notes, observations, and a reflexive journal. One in-depth interview was conducted with each participant. An adaptation of Colaizzi’s (1978) Procedural Steps was used to analyze the data and the participants’ descriptions of their grief experience was presented in a narrative format. iv Major Findings: The following six themes were identified through data analysis: (1) experiencing grief, (2) grief expression of men, (3) relying on faith, (4) experiencing change, (5) receiving support at the workplace, and (6) work performance after the loss. The participants described their grief experience as one that affected their daily activities, including their concentration at work. They all experienced unexpected changes and new challenges. Findings also suggest that there are several factors that play important roles in the personal experience and expression of grief. Culture, gender, religion, and perceived support were some of the factors mentioned by the six participants of the study. The findings of this study have important implications for the field of Human Resource Development. It emphasized the importance of creating a work environment where the grieving employee feels supported, respected, and understood. It is evident that learning about grief and its impact on work performance is a critical element for the success of organizations.
Thesis:
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Barry University, 2007.
Bibliography:
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-112)

Record Information

Source Institution:
Barry University
Holding Location:
Barry University Archives and Special Collections
Rights Management:
Copyright Rosibel Monserrate. Permission granted to Barry University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Resource Identifier:
BF575.G7 M66 2007_MonserrateRosibel ( BU-Local )
Classification:
BF575.G7 M66 2007 ( lcc )

BUDC Membership

Aggregations:
Barry University
Theses and Dissertations