Offer Support to a Grieving Colleague

When your colleague is grieving a loss, you want to be supportive without overstepping. So what should you do? Start by offering privacy. It’s important to give them the space to process. Let them approach you when, and if, they are ready. At the same time, you want to show that you are there for them should they need you. You can say something simple like, “I’m thinking of you,” or “I’m happy to just sit with you while we both sip our coffee, if you'd like.” Perhaps the most helpful thing you can do is to offer support with work. Your grieving colleague may be feeling the pressure to perform, especially if they’re returning to deadlines after a bereavement period. You might say something like “Is there anything I can help with today in case you’d like to leave a little early?” Or, “I’m happy to take something off your plate, if that helps.” Your goal should be to help your coworker return to their daily routine, without judging them for how they’re coping with their loss, and giving them the time they need to deal with it in their own way.

This tip is adapted from?“Your Colleague Is Grieving. How Can You Help?,”?by Sonika Bakshi