Lived experiences of pregnancy loss at work: Realizing meaningful supports

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dc.contributor.authorHennessy, Marita
dc.contributor.authorSánchez, Tamara Escañuela
dc.contributor.authorLeitao, Sara
dc.contributor.authorKelly‐Harrington, Ruadh
dc.contributor.authorO'Sullivan, Maeve
dc.contributor.authorDalton‐O’Connor, Caroline
dc.contributor.authorDonnelly, Mary
dc.contributor.authorMurray, Claire
dc.contributor.authorNuzum, Daniel
dc.contributor.authorO'Donoghue, Keelin
dc.contributor.funderDepartment of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-22T10:50:07Z
dc.date.available2026-05-22T10:50:07Z
dc.date.issued2026-04-25
dc.description.abstractThere is increased focus on pregnancy loss at work over recent years, with many countries introducing or exploring the introduction of statutory leave for pregnancies that end pre-“viability.” Individual organizations are also introducing their own pregnancy loss policies. However, academic focus on early pregnancy loss at work has lagged behind political discourse and organizational developments. Through analysis of qualitative data from a mixed-methods survey (n = 913) and interviews (n = 13) conducted in Ireland, we explore workers' lived experiences of early pregnancy loss to better understand what supports are needed and contextual factors that can aid the introduction and sustainment of effective interventions. Firstly, we examine the ways in which stigma and hierarchies of loss can shape experiences and available supports. Secondly, we illustrate the value and meaning of legislation and policy as it relates to early pregnancy loss at work. Finally, we discuss practical implications for legislation and policy development and implementation. Workers who experience early pregnancy loss report varied experiences and needs regarding supports within and across workplaces. Attending to factors at individual, organizational, and societal levels is crucial to realize meaningful supports. Importantly, making visible and addressing the inequities surrounding early pregnancy loss experiences in the workplace can be a catalyst for societal change and help to reduce the stigma surrounding early pregnancy loss.en
dc.description.sponsorshipDepartment of Children, Equality,Disability, Integration, and Youth (PLACES Project)
dc.description.versionPublished Version
dc.format.extent20
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.authororcidHennessy, Marita§0000-0001-7742-8118
dc.identifier.authororcidSánchez, Tamara Escañuela
dc.identifier.authororcidLeitao, Sara
dc.identifier.authororcidKelly‐Harrington, Ruadh
dc.identifier.authororcidO'Sullivan, Maeve
dc.identifier.authororcidDalton‐O’Connor, Caroline§0000-0003-4396-2800
dc.identifier.authororcidDonnelly, Mary§0000-0001-7612-9722
dc.identifier.authororcidMurray, Claire§0000-0002-4904-9724
dc.identifier.authororcidNuzum, Daniel
dc.identifier.authororcidO'Donoghue, Keelin§0000-0002-4616-2887
dc.identifier.citationHennessy, M, Sánchez, T E, Leitao, S, Kelly‐Harrington, R, O'Sullivan, M, Dalton‐O’Connor, C, Donnelly, M, Murray, C, Nuzum, D & O'Donoghue, K 2026, 'Lived experiences of pregnancy loss at work: Realizing meaningful supports', Gender, Work and Organization, vol. 33, no. 5, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.70165
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/gwao.70165
dc.identifier.endpage20
dc.identifier.issn0968-6673
dc.identifier.issued5
dc.identifier.journaltitleGender, Work and Organization
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-7742-8118/work/212874992
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-4904-9724/work/215517874
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-7612-9722/work/215518154
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0003-4396-2800/work/221063542
dc.identifier.startpage1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/18827
dc.identifier.volume33
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherWiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
dc.relation.urihttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105036526640
dc.rights© 2026, the Author(s). Gender, Work & Organization published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
dc.rights.accessrightsopen access
dc.rights.licensenameAttribution 4.0 International
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.statusPeer reviewed
dc.subjectAbortion
dc.subjectEmployment
dc.subjectLeave
dc.subjectMiscarriage
dc.subjectReproductive health
dc.subjectStigma
dc.subjectWork
dc.subject[INFANT]
dc.subject[Law]
dc.subject[Medicine]
dc.titleLived experiences of pregnancy loss at work: Realizing meaningful supportsen
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)
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