Grief in the team

How managers can support a grieving team member and team with compassion, flexibility, and patience.

2 min read · Awareness resource · Reviewed 2026-09-15

Grief doesn't stay at home when someone comes to work - as a manager, how you respond can offer real comfort during a hard time.

What it is

Grief in the team refers to how a death - of a team member, a colleague's family member, or someone connected to the workplace - affects the people who continue showing up to work. Grief can show up as sadness, but also as distraction, irritability, fatigue, or a strong need to keep busy. There's no fixed timeline, and everyone grieves differently.

Signs to notice

Reduced concentration, memory lapses, or missed details
Withdrawal from team interactions or, conversely, over-working to avoid feelings
Visible sadness, tearfulness, or flat mood
Requests for time off or flexibility around anniversaries and rituals
Reluctance to talk about the loss, or difficulty focusing on ordinary conversations

What helps

Acknowledge the loss directly and simply: "I'm so sorry for your loss. Please let me know what you need."
Offer flexibility around deadlines, meetings, and workload in the weeks following a loss.
Ask the grieving team member how they'd like their colleagues to be informed, if at all.
Avoid clichés or rushing them to "move on" - grief has no fixed schedule.
Check in periodically, not just in the first week - grief often resurfaces weeks or months later.
If the loss affects the whole team, consider a group acknowledgement or moment together, guided by what feels appropriate to your workplace culture.
Offer access to Cleared Mind for anyone affected, not only the person most directly bereaved.

When to reach out for help

If grief seems to be significantly affecting someone's ability to function over an extended period, or if you notice signs of severe distress or hopelessness, encourage them to speak to a Cleared Mind counsellor and check in with them more closely.

Getting help in South Africa

Cleared Mind counsellors offer confidential grief and bereavement support. The SADAG Mental Health Line (011 234 4837) is also available for further guidance and support.