being a good coworker Archives - Common Place Communication

Dealing with a bereaved co-worker

October 24, 2019

Socialising at work, Working with colleagues, Workplace etiquette, Workplace relations

Dear Manners@Work, A colleague in my team has had a bereavement in his family—his Mum passed away. I am not that close to him, but we do sit near each other and we usually say good morning and goodbye and have a social chat each day. I’m not sure what I should say to him? I don’t want to upset him at work by reminding him about it.

Yes, I had a good weekend thanks

Dear Manners@Work, There’s a woman who works in the same pod as me. Every Monday morning, I say hello and I ask her how her weekend was. (Because that’s polite and friendly, right?). And every Monday morning, she replies and gives me a detailed answer about what she got up to. But she never, ever asks me about my weekend in return.