This document outlines the 5 stages of grief that people often experience when losing their job due to COVID-19 redundancies: 1) Denial, where one is in shock and confusion; 2) Anger, where one feels frustration and irritation; 3) Bargaining, where one tries to find meaning and reaches out to others for support; 4) Fighting, where one maintains confidence, networks, and gets creative; and 5) Acceptance, where one is at peace and makes new plans. The document provides advice for dealing with each stage and encourages reaching out to others for help during difficult times.

1. The 5 Stages of
COVID-19-Related
Redundancy Grief
(and how to overcome them)
Image by Gerd Altmann

2. Hello!
I’m Sean.
I, like many others, have been let
go while COVID-19 is doing its
thing.
This presentation is intended to
help people deal with losing their
jobs at the moment.
Want to connect? Reach out to me on LinkedIn
Image by cromaconceptovisual

3. Stage 1: Denial
“OMG this can’t be happening!”
What to expect:
- Shock: “I can’t. I just can’t.”
- Confusion: “But the business objectives
didn’t change overnight, did they?”
- Fear: “How the hell am I gonna get
another job at the moment?!”
How to deal:
There’s no point in dwelling, here. Let it wash
over you as fast as you can, and try to move
on to…

4. Stage 2: Anger
The “I just want to smash eggs” stage.
Expect:
- Frustration: “GRRRglrghsglh.”
- Irritation: “Why didn’t my employer
consider X/Y/Z?”
- Anxiety: “Mann! Now my CV will
have a hole in it!” (It won’t – any
employer will understand)
How to deal:
Try releasing anger through exercise,
meditation, video games, or by spending
some time with a dog. Dogs are great. Image by Steve Buissinne

5. Now, pause and take
some time to
breathe. The worse
should be over*.
*At least this cute couple makes it seem so.

6. Stage 3: Bargaining
It’s totally fine if you’re struggling to find meaning at
the moment. (COVID-19 is making things harder for all of us.)
Yes, you lost your job, but things could be much
worse*. You (hopefully) still have your health.
How to deal:
Reach out to loved ones, friends, and former
co-workers to share how you’re feeling.
You’ll get a lot back from them through empathy and
support, and it’ll help you feel better.
*This is a tricky statement. Things could literally always be worse.

7. Stage 4: Fight
The usual 4th stage of grief is depression, which comes
with feelings of helplessness and being overwhelmed.
But there’s no time for that. Almost everyone is feeling
helpless and overwhelmed to some degree. Instead, fight:
- Be confident: The company that let you go? Prove it’s
their loss.
- Activate your network: Now’s your time to see what’s
out there: Your network will be in your corner.
- Get creative: Proactively reach out to companies, look
into learning new skills, and consider any ideas you
have that fit the current landscape. Let’s do this!
Image by klimkin

8. Stage 5: Acceptance
Congrats! You’re now at peace with being one of the
millions of newly unemployed thanks to COVID-19.
What’s next?
- Explore your options: We’re in extraordinary times;
what’s best in the short-run might not be the best
long-term choice.
- Put a new plan in place: Develop a solid “Plan A”, and
back it up with plans B, C, and D if you can.
- Move on: Out with the old, and in with the new. One
door closes, another opens. [insert another cliche
here.]
Seriously, though, the sky is your limit.

9. If you found this useful, please consider
sharing it with anyone you think might
like it.
Dealing with COVID-19 has proven
we really are all in this together.
If you’re feeling low, reach out to someone.
Anyone. Even me – I have lots of free time
at the moment 😅. Stay healthy!
Credits
- Presentation template by
SlidesCarnival
- Any non-attributed photographs by
Unsplash
- The 5 stages of grief were adapted
from the Kübler-Ross Grief Model
(more info here)
One last thing...
Thanks for reading!