Grief in the Workplace -
A Helpful Guide to Expressing Sympathy

What to Say, What to Do:
When someone in the workplace has experienced the
loss of a loved one, reaching out and letting them know
how much you care can be a tremendous comfort.
When it comes to expressions of sympathy, differences
in religious beliefs and customs can make it difficult to
know the appropriate gesture to make or an
appropriate expression.

Grief in the Workplace:
Death in the workplace can be a difficult challenge to
deal with on both a personal and professional level. As
a group your office may choose to send a floral
arrangement or basket to the home. You may choose
to attend the services together or individually. If you are
attending the services, offer your condolences to your
coworker but do not bring up issues surrounding work.
Offer your support and understanding over their loss.
Once a coworker returns to work, you may wish to
extend your support and sympathy but remember to
respect their privacy if they don’t wish to discuss their
loss. If it appears over a period of time that your
coworker seems depressed, you may wish to contact
your supervisor for more guidance

Acceptable Gestures of Sympathy:
There are many ways to express your sympathy—
sending flowers, attending the services, sending a fruit
or gourmet basket, writing a condolence note or card,
making a contribution or creating a scholarship in the
name of the deceased. Whatever gesture you choose to
make, be certain you have the following key information
before contacting a local florist or sending a
remembrance:
-Correct name and spelling of the deceased (required
for mass cards and for sending flowers to the funeral
home).
-Address of the funeral home Address of the family if
you are sending flowers to their home.
-Funeral services and times (if you are attending the
service).
-Requests by the family (such as charitable donations)

For Coworkers Sending to the Funeral
Service:
Coworkers will generally send a gesture of
sympathy as a group, company or department.
Appropriate arrangements for the service would
be a standing spray, standing basket or fireside
basket.

For Coworkers Sending a Sympathy
Gift to the Home:
If you are unable to attend the services, it is
generally appropriate to send a gesture of
sympathy to the surviving family’s home.
Depending on your relationship, a note or card
would be appropriate to extend your sympathy. If
you work closely together, sending a floral basket
arrangement, dish garden or blooming plant is an
appropriate gesture. Additional ideas are fruit
baskets, food baskets and gourmet baskets.