How to Cope with the Death of a Colleague

Death is never easy to cope with, even if you were close to that person or not. It often comes as a complete shock and it reminds us of our own mortality, so when a co-worker dies, it can be hard to process. If they were young, fit and healthy, it's even more of a blow, especially if you were working closely with them just days before and didn't see it coming.

The first thing you should do is talk to your colleagues. You're probably all going through similar emotions, and sharing those feelings is a good way to start processing such a momentous event. That mutual support is going to be vital going forward if the workplace is to return to some sort of normality in the coming weeks.

If you feel very upset by it, you could also try talking to other people, whether that's your partner, parents or a workplace counsellor. The more people you talk to, the better you'll start to feel. Sometimes you can feel deeply affected by death even if you barely knew the person, especially if there are other things going on in your life.

One way to work through the grieving process is to throw yourself into work – more specifically, their work. That's a tribute in itself. If you volunteer to take on their unfinished projects or even reply to their emails, you'll feel better for doing something positive.

The death of a colleague can come as a bolt from the blue and really throw you, but talking and work can help you find closure.