Helping colleagues dealing with grief
When a colleague loses a parent, it can be difficult to support them in a work environment, as a ‘professional’ and driven atmosphere does not lend itself to dealing with bereavement. There can be space for grief at work, and hopefully these tips below can guide you to creating a welcoming atmosphere.
If you notice something is a bit different about your colleague, sending a simple and open message just to let them know you are here if they are struggling with anything.
If you feel prepared, let them know you are happy to act as a middleman if they are struggling to start a conversation. Or signposting your colleagues to charities, communities, human resources or a head of department is a great way to support them if you are unsure where to start or want to connect them with practical support.
It can be helpful to ask the person how/if they want their bereavement to be shared. Some people will want the support from those in the workplace, however, for some it may prove overwhelming.
Mark key dates in your calander where possible. For example, birthdays and anniversaries. This is helpful because they may struggle in the run up or need extra support.
Offer them some support outside or during of work. Such as a coffee break or lunch on the weekend, to let them know you are a listening ear or a happy distraction.
Say something rather than nothing, it can be easy to think you cannot remind them of their grief, but they will most likely appreciate the acknowledgement. It is easy to feel caught up on maintaining a professional relationship, if you remain consistent with your language and intentions you can continue a respectful dynamic.
We’re all human. Workplaces often come with rules or ‘guidelines’ of how we should act, and sometimes it may feel awkward to bring up topics like grief. However, remember we’re all human, we all go through these things. Sometimes all a person needs is to feel listened to and supported, so providing them this at work will be massively helpful.