There’s a moment after a Reduction in Force (RIF) where time seems to stop. The email lands, or the conversation happens, and suddenly you’re no longer part of something that likely shaped your routine, identity, and plans for the future. While a RIF is a business decision, its impact is deeply personal, and for many, it feels like a loss.
At Peregrine Talent Development, we’ve worked with professionals at all levels navigating career transitions. One of the most compassionate ways to understand the emotional journey that follows a RIF is through the Kübler-Ross model of grief, which outlines five non-linear stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.
If you’ve been affected by a RIF, or know someone who has, know that these emotional stages are normal. Understanding them can bring clarity to what you’re experiencing and offer a path forward.
- Denial – “This can’t be happening.”
Denial is a buffer. It’s what shields us from the initial shock. You might find yourself rereading the message or replaying the meeting in your mind, convinced that someone made a mistake.
This stage may include numbness or attempts to carry on with “business as usual.” It’s your mind’s way of pacing the pain.
What can help: Give yourself space to pause. Reach out to trusted colleagues or loved ones. Don’t rush to “move on”—this moment deserves to be acknowledged.
- Anger – “Why me?”
Once reality begins to sink in, anger
often follows. It may be directed at leadership, the economy, coworkers who weren’t affected, or even yourself.
Anger doesn’t mean you’re being negative, it means you’re feeling the injustice of the moment.
What can help: Channel the anger constructively. Journal it. Move your body. Use it to fuel advocacy or to reach out and gather the facts about your severance, benefits, and next steps.
- Bargaining – “If only I had…”
This stage often sounds like regret. “If only I had taken that other job.” “Maybe if I worked longer hours…” It’s our way of trying to make sense of what feels senseless.
Bargaining is an attempt to regain control when so much feels uncertain.
What can help: Replace the “what-ifs” with “what’s next.” Take stock of your strengths, experiences, and support system. Start mapping your options, even if they feel tentative.
- Depression – “I don’t know where to go from here.”
This is the low point. You may feel the loss of structure, purpose, and professional identity. It’s common to question your worth or prospects.
Depression isn’t weakness—it’s part of grieving. Acknowledge it. Name it. Then let trusted friends, coaches, or counselors walk with you through it.
What can help: Don’t isolate. Establish a daily rhythm. Connect with a career coach or community group. Focus on small wins, such as polishing your résumé or updating your LinkedIn profile.
- Acceptance – “This is where I am—and I’m ready to take the next step.”
Acceptance doesn’t mean everything is okay, it means you’re no longer fighting the reality. You begin to reclaim your narrative and see the opportunity embedded in the disruption.
You start asking, “What do I want next?” instead of “Why did this happen to me?”
What can help: Set tangible goals. Identify roles or industries that excite you. Consider whether now is the time to reskill, pivot, or reimagine your career.
You Don’t Have to Go Through It Alone
Peregrine Talent Development offers coaching and career transition support for individuals affected by RIFs and layoffs. From rewriting your résumé to rebuilding your confidence, we help you navigate the emotional and practical journey ahead.
We bring 20+ years of experience helping professionals discover clarity, reclaim their confidence, and find their next opportunity—not just as a job, but as a step toward renewed purpose.
Whether you’re in the fog of grief or the cusp of reinvention, you are not alone. You are not broken. You are simply in motion.
References
- Bridges, W. (2017). Transitions: Making sense of life’s changes (2nd ed.). Da Capo Lifelong Books.
- Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. Bantam Books.
- Kessler, D. (2019). Finding meaning: The sixth stage of grief. Scribner.
- Kübler-Ross, E., & Kessler, D. (2005). On grief and grieving: Finding the meaning of grief through the five stages of loss. Scribner.
- Neimeyer, R. A. (2001). Meaning reconstruction & the experience of loss. American Psychological Association.
- Pink, D. H. (2009). Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us. Riverhead Books.
- Schlossberg, N. K. (2011). Revitalizing retirement: Reshaping your identity, relationships, and purpose. APA LifeTools.
- Watkins, M. (2013). The first 90 days: Proven strategies for getting up to speed faster and smarter (Updated ed.). Harvard Business Review Press.
Next Step: Let’s Talk
Schedule a free 30-minute transition coaching call. Let us help you rediscover what’s next—with heart, hope, and strategy.