Grief is a universal experience that affects everyone in different capacities at different times. Providing support can look different based on the individual and your relationship to one another. Whenever a co-worker experiences a personal loss, whether it is a parent, friend, pet, etc., navigating how to support them professionally and personally can be difficult. It may be hard to determine the appropriate way to navigate support in the workplace. In this blog, I will provide guidance on supporting a co-worker who is experiencing grief.

I’ll be honest, it’s easier to support someone who is grieving if you have experienced a certain level of grief yourself. I can remember a while ago when a co-worker of mine lost her father unexpectedly. I felt shock and sadness for her, but looking back, I didn’t quite “get it” nor did I know what to say past the “I’m so sorry for your loss.”  The same was true when a close friend and co-worker experienced a miscarriage. I hadn’t yet felt the grief that accompanies losing a child so I remember being sad for her and even crying at the news, but I didn’t fully comprehend the devastating loss she experienced. If you have lost someone close to you, the grief changes you. I believe I gained a certain level of compassion and empathy that I didn’t quite have before. However, if you are reading this and (thankfully) haven’t experienced profound grief, you can still support a friend grieving and show up for them in numerous thoughtful ways. 

I have found that learning a bit about the grieving process can be helpful to familiarize yourself with what the co-worker might be experiencing. Grief is a natural response to loss that affects everyone differently. It is often explained through the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages of grief are not a strict order or checklist, and people may move back and forth between them or experience some more strongly than others. Denial can act as a temporary buffer from overwhelming pain, while anger may arise from feelings of unfairness or helplessness. Bargaining often involves wishing things could have been different, and depression can bring deep sadness and withdrawal as the reality of the loss settles in. Acceptance does not mean the loss no longer hurts, but rather means you are learning to live with it and continue moving through life. No matter what stage your co-worker is currently experiencing, they’ll need compassion and support through it all. 

There are a number of different ways for co-workers, employees and bosses to support their colleagues through times of grief and loss. Keep reading for some ideas that I personally have been comforted by.

Depending on the relationship with the person who passed away, survivors may be dealing with countless decisions, funeral planning, obituary writing, estate matters etc. The mental load that is required is overwhelming. In addition to the emotional stress, the family may also be running on little to no sleep, too much caffeine and too few vegetables. I can assure you, no one is thinking about “What to cook for dinner?” That fact is why bringing meals to someone grieving is such a practical sympathy gift for employees. 

I have been on both the receiving end and giving end of meal trains and they are so helpful! Websites like Take Them a Meal, Mealtrain or even Sign Up Genius are easy ways to rally a community. I would recommend filling a two week span with date options of every other day or every third day. It’s easy to include allergy information, dietary preferences, address and contact information. One of the ways we felt most loved after losing our second son Cooper was when my (former!) coworkers sent us two weeks worth of prepared meals that went directly into our refrigerator for the numerous days we didn’t feel like cooking. Add to that the Edible Arrangements people sent that offered healthy snacks for our toddler and we felt bright spots during a dark period. Don’t be afraid to lean on DoorDash or UberEats giftcards also.

As beautiful as fresh flowers are, I personally love the sentimental and lasting nature of physical sympathy gifts for co-workers. It’s also kind of depressing throwing out dead flowers when you are grieving, or is that just me? That’s why I highly recommend sending a grieving co-worker a remembrance keepsake as a thoughtful way to show you care and are thinking about them. Laurelbox offers a variety of remembrance gifts for those grieving. Speaking from experience, every time I have opened a Laurelbox someone sent me, I felt loved and seen. Whether you choose a curated Laurelbox or pick out each item, the recipient will be encouraged. A few of my favorites are the gorgeous feather wind chimes (mine hang right by the front door), Memorial Suncatcher and Rainbow maker, and the Shining Bright birthday candle. There are so many options that can speak directly to the type of loss or you can choose based on a hobby like gardening, or a self-care box.

People often forget to do this, either because they think they themselves know best, or because they might be nervous about what the response might be! But I would encourage you, don’t be afraid to gently ask the grieving co-worker, “How can I best support you during this difficult time?” They might be willing to tell you! It might be that they need you to pick up some slack on that upcoming project. It could be they are lonely and would like to get a drink after work because going home is really depressing. Maybe they need you to run interference with super annoying Jeff from HR (I’m sorry if your name is Jeff!) and explain why it’s not appropriate for him to keep telling all his personal grief stories every time he runs into your grieving co-worker in the break room. 

Help them however you can and don’t overthink it. Just listen, and be supportive.

We hope this blog has given you various ideas for how to offer support to a grieving co-worker or find an appropriate corporate sympathy gift. There are a number of professional sympathy gifts for co-workers that would be thoughtful and encouraging. The same applies for a sympathy gift for an employee. You can pool resources from your office, team or friend group to let your co-worker, boss or employee know you all care. Make sure to look for ways throughout 2026 to provide tangible love and support to those around your workplace who are grieving!