Grief in the Workplace: How to Support Bereaved Colleagues Through Counselling

Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, and it certainly doesn’t clock out at 5 p.m.

When someone experiences the death of a loved one, their whole world can feel turned upside down. And yet, many people return to work still holding the weight of their loss, trying to function in a space that often expects productivity over pain. As colleagues, employers, and human beings, it’s vital we create space for grief in the workplace — not just with kind words, but with ongoing support, including access to counselling.

Why Acknowledging Grief at Work Matters

Grief can affect concentration, motivation, mood, and even physical health. When it’s ignored or minimised in the workplace, employees may feel isolated, overwhelmed, or even judged.

They might try to “push through” out of fear of seeming unprofessional, which can actually prolong and complicate the grieving process.

By simply acknowledging someone’s pain — and not rushing to fix it — we’re already making a difference. Grief isn’t something to get over; it’s something to move through, at each person’s own pace.

The Role of Counselling in Navigating Grief

Workplace counselling provides a private, non-judgemental space for someone to explore their grief openly. It's not about offering quick solutions — it’s about holding space. A trained therapist listens without expectation, allowing the person to speak freely, cry, be silent, remember, rage, or question — whatever they need in that moment.

In humanistic counselling, the person is always the expert in their own experience. The therapist walks alongside them, rather than leading the way. This can be a huge relief for someone who feels lost or unsure of how to ‘cope’.

What Employers Can Do

You don’t have to be a therapist to support a grieving colleague, but you can help make counselling more accessible and normalised in your workplace.

Here’s how:

• Check in regularly — not just once after the loss, but weeks and months later.

• Offer flexible return-to-work arrangements, including phased returns or work-from-home options.

• Make counselling services visible and easy to access, whether through an Employee Assistance Programme or external referrals.

• Educate teams on grief sensitivity — even a short training can help reduce awkwardness or avoidance.

• Lead with empathy — small acts of compassion can make a big difference.

  
  

Grief Doesn’t End — But Neither should the Support

Grief changes over time, but it never really goes away. By cultivating a workplace culture that honours loss — not as a disruption, but as part of life — we build environments where people feel safe to be fully human, even in their hardest moments.

And that, ultimately, helps us all.