The Letter Said I “Had to Report

Utilizing One-Stop Career Center Services to Cope with Job Loss Grief

Federal and State Authority

• On November 24, 1993, the President signed into law the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1993 (P.L. 103-152) which added requirements States must meet as a condition of States receiving UI grants.

• Florida Statutes 443.091(1)(b) requires claimants to report as directed by the Regional Workforce Board (RWB).

What is Grief?

• A reaction to a major loss. It is most often an unhappy and painful emotion.

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002497)

• A multi-faceted response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or something to which a bond was formed. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief)

Elizabeth Kübler-Ross Model

• Swiss American psychiatrist who studied death and dying

• Developed a model of adjustment, known as the five stages of grief

• Kübler-Ross’ model has been expanded to incorporate loss in other areas of the lifespan

Kübler-Ross ModelFive Stages of Grief

Grief

Denial

Acceptance

DepressionAnger

Bargaining

Stages of Grief

It is important to recognize:

1. The stages of grief are not sequential, there is no defined starting point.

2. The stages of grief are not experienced in any particular order.

3. Everyone may not experience each stage of grief.

Denial

• A conscious or unconscious refusal to accept facts, information, reality, etc. relating to the situation

• A natural defense mechanism

Anger

• May manifest in different ways– Outbursts– Blaming behavior– Detachment from personal relationships

• May be self directed or expressed externally toward others

Bargaining

• Negotiation, typically with a higher being, for a better outcome

• Attempt to regain a prior state of homeostasis or balance that no longer exists

• Rarely provides a sustainable solution

Depression

• May be viewed as a “dress rehearsal” for the acceptance of the aftermath of the loss

• Experience of emotion such as sadness, fear, regret, uncertainty, etc.

• Expression of emotion shows the customer has begun to accept reality

Acceptance

• An indication of some emotional detachment and objectivity to the loss

• Recognition that the loss has occurred and a transition to the next steps

• May be viewed as the customer “turning the page” to write a new beginning

How May Grief Sound?

Denial

• “This isn’t happening to me.”

• “I’m still going to get dressed and go to work tomorrow.”

Anger

• “Who is to blame?”

• “Why me? It’s not fair!”

Bargaining

• “I’ll will give away all those new suits I bought if…”

• “Dear God, I promise if I get my job back, I will never run late again.”

Depression

• “I’m so sad, why bother looking for a job.”

• “I’m not good enough to work for anyone.”

Acceptance

• “It’s going to be okay.”

• “I can’t change what has happened in the past, I might as well prepare for the future.”

Utilizing One-Stop Services to Address Job Loss Grief

Early Identification

• Claimants are identified for reemployment services by the fourth week of their claim

• They are scheduled to report to the One-Stop no later than the seventh week of their claim

Early Identification

• Use this early selection process to your benefit

• Provide a thorough orientation to the One-Stop and available services

• Focus on reemployment versus discussing the current unemployed state

Strategies to Cope with Job Loss Grief

1. Acknowledge the claimant’s stage of grief and validate their feelings

– Look for verbal and physical cues to let you know what stage of grief they may currently be in

– Ask open ended questions

– Allow the claimant to speak openly about how they perceive their job loss without passing judgment

Strategies to Cope with Job Loss Grief

2. Get them connected to one-stop services that will help them obtain employment

– Provide them with an assessment service to gauge exactly where they stand

– Discuss the assessment results with the claimant to keep them involved

– Develop a plan to help them move forward

Strategies to Cope with Job Loss Grief

3. Discuss the importance of creating a daily routine

– Remind the claimant to treat their job search like a regular job

• Wake up early to begin to their job search

• Commit to their efforts

• Stay motivated

Strategies to Cope with Job Loss Grief

4. Refer the claimant to take advantage of networking opportunities

– Refer them to a Social Networking Workshop

– Encourage them to reach out to their existing contact network

• Family, friends, friends of friends, former roommates or past associates

Resources• Unemployment Job Loss Stress Coping

– http://www.helpguide.org/life/unemployment_job_loss_stress_coping_tips.htm

• Job Transition Manual

– http://www.jhu.edu/~hr1/human-serv/JobTransitionManual.pdf

• Kübler-Ross Model

– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model