For a seriously ill or dying person, the connection to work life can be vitally important. Sharing office business and staff news keeps the person from feeling isolated. The difficulty is to maintain this connection while balancing the desire for privacy and the effects of the disease on the sick person s energy. Stay in touch. Your presence in the person s life is more important than the specific steps you take.
Some companies pitch in and offer shopping, visiting, or vacation time to coworkers who are ill.
Designate one person to be the office liaison, responsible for passing along information on how the sick person is doing, what he or she needs, and how much contact he or she feels up to. An informal office video in which everyone says hello or gives their own messages can work wonders. These activities not only maintain a connection with the sick person, but help office morale and create a sense of community in the face of a crisis. When a Coworker Dies People who work together are like extended families, and when a person dies, friends and coworkers grieve. When the death is unexpected, as from violence or an accident, it can be particularly traumatic.