Summary

The website content outlines the application of the Five Stages of Grief to the process of coping with job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

The article discusses how individuals can navigate the emotional journey of job loss by understanding the Five Stages of Grief, which include Denial and Isolation, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. It acknowledges the widespread impact of COVID-19 on employment, with the United Nations estimating 195 million job losses globally and the International Labour Organisation reporting that 2.7 billion workers have been affected by lockdown measures. The piece aims to provide guidance to those currently experiencing job loss, to friends and family of those affected, and to leaders responsible for layoffs. It emphasizes that while the stages of grief are not linear and vary in intensity for each person, understanding them can facilitate a healthier coping process and eventual acceptance and growth.

Opinions

The author suggests that the emotional response to job loss can be as profound as the grief experienced from personal losses, such as the death of a loved one.
It is implied that individuals may react differently to job loss, with some seeing it as an opportunity and others as a devastation, and these reactions should not be judged.
The article posits that people need to be given space and understanding during the anger stage, rather than being rushed through it.
The author believes that in the bargaining stage, individuals seek to regain control over their situation, often through wishful thinking or hypothetical scenarios.
Depression is presented as an inevitable stage for those deeply affected by job loss, with the author distinguishing between those who express their sadness openly and those who suffer in silence.
Acceptance is viewed as the final stage where one is ready to move on, learn from the experience, and potentially see the job loss as an opportunity for reflection and improvement.
The author advocates for a shift from a victim mindset to one of accountability, suggesting that individuals are responsible for their actions and decisions, which can be empowering in the face of adversity.
The article emphasizes the importance of support, suggesting that sometimes the best way to help someone going through job loss is to simply listen and offer a warm hug without judgment.

Five Stages Journey When You Loss Your Job

How to understand your journey using the Five Stages of Grief theory

It is a fact that COVID-19 has impacted our lives in many aspects. In the way we relate to each other, with our families, friends. And also, in our broader context; communities, organizations, and jobs.

From a psychological perspective, we all know quarantine will pass, and we are trying to be positives that in shortly we will go back to our regular life, or something similar to that.

However, what about those people that have lost their jobs because of COVID-19? Or that are afraid that this can happens if we continue on this path.

According to the United Nations, COVID-19 could cause the equivalent of 195 million job losses around the world. And, the International Labour Organisation has already confirmed that 2.7 billion workers have been impacted in somehow with the lockdown measures.

We all can understand the reasons behind the impact in society, economy, and world of work. But this not change the way that someone that has lost the job will feel, and the journey that will start.

The Stages of Grief have been usually defined to understand the grief process for someone that has experienced personal losses, such as; a terminal illness, the loss of a family member, a friend, or even an animal.

On this occasion, we will use the model to explain the process that someone lives when they have lost their jobs. With the simple objective to help people that can:

Be living this process right now,
Have a friend or family under these circumstances and want to understand more about the process, or;
A leader that is in charge of dismissing employees. Regularly this group will not be aware of these stages, and it is crucial so they can run the process in a better way.

Of course, we are all different, and the loss of our jobs can be something more or less significant depending on the person. Some people can see this as an opportunity, another as a devastation. We are not here to judge. We are here to support them.

Denial and Isolation

The first reaction that we can have is the denial of the situation, “this is not happening to me; it cannot happen”.

This a normal reaction, what we are trying to do it is to incorporate a rational defence mechanism to attack our emotions.

In this stage, we have no clarity around the future. We feel lost, we can’t think clearly. And probably, we are not able to put words to what is going on in our emotions and mind.

Usually, this will be a temporary phase. It is the first reaction when we receive the news.

Anger

After we have passed the previous stage, our emotions start to appear intensely. We lose all vulnerability, and we redirect them as anger.

This anger can be aimed against anyone: our partner, friend, pets, a colleague, or even inanimate objects.

In our rationale, we know it is not correct, and probably the object of our anger does not have any responsibility in the situation. The person that is feeling the anger understand that, but there is nothing they can do.

Regularly people that are passing through this stage will try to move faster to another one. Or the people near them will try to relief that anger. We need to give them the space, understand what they are living and provide a comfort zone in case they need us.

Bargaining

On this stage, we are trying to retake control. But is a desperate way to bargain.

Typically you will use phrases such as; “If only I had a second chance”, or “If only I could speak with my boss one more time”.

The person in this phase is trying to make a pact with someone else, as a way to change the course of history.

Depression

This is a critical stage. Everyone, absolutely everyone will pass through some sort of depression if strongly feel the loss of the job.

However, the way people pass through this can be different. There is a group that will be more extrovert in their emotions. Sadness and regret are part of their depression. And they need someone to talk to, someone that can help them listen, but also giving some comfort words back.

The second group is the one that lives a silent depression. People that do not want to spoke with anyone, and they live this more privately. This group does not need someone coming to talk to them; they just need someone quiet at their side, that will not judge or talk.

Acceptance

This is the final stage. Here, you are ready to move on. Of course, you remember everything, but in this phase, you are prepared to learn from the situation. You understand your responsibility on it, and you can continue your life.

Some people even can go beyond, and they completely take the experience as an opportunity to reflect and improve.

You can always take advantage of any situation, and you ever need to think you are the main responsible for your acts and decisions.

In my article below, I spoke about how to move from a victim to a protagonist mindset. Something that also can be helpful if you are feeling trapped.

Moving from a Victim mindset to full Accountability

Changing your mindset will change everything around you

medium.com

Finally, remember that not everyone will live this at the same level, or we pass through the same stages. Also, this is not like a game where you complete one stage and move to the other. You can be going back and forwards several times.

Just do not be hard on yourself, take your time, leave the process, and then continue. And if you have a friend or family on this situation, do not blame them, they do not need your judgment, they need your support. And support some times, is no more than just listen and give a warm hug.