Have You Been Upset by the Death of a Colleague?

Death is still the last taboo, even more so in the workplace where we're expected to remain professional and not show emotions. Yet death is a strange thing, and it can affect you in surprising ways. If a colleague has died, you may find yourself getting upset even if you didn't work closely with them. Any death is difficult to hear about, and it's perfectly alright to feel deeply saddened or even traumatised by the event.

And 'trauma' isn't too strong a word. Sometimes it very much depends on what's going on in your own life, as to how you react. If you're already suffering from depression, are stressed or simply have too much on your plate, a sudden event like the death of a colleague can really hit you hard.

You may have worked closely with them or just known them in passing, but the shock and finality of it can be really hard to handle. If you've been emotionally affected, the first thing you should do is speak to your manager. A good manager will have an open-door policy after an employee's death, and they may be able to offer you advice on workplace counselling.

Talking to colleagues is also helpful, because you may not be alone in feeling so badly affected. Everyone will have felt some grief, to a greater or lesser extent. Talk to friends and family outside of work too, and let them know what the impact has been on you. Whatever your relationship with the individual was, don't be ashamed to admit to your grief.