March 20, 2019
Q: What’s appropriate, if anything, to do for or say to a coworker you don’t know very well who’s just returned to the office after the death of her spouse?
A: Even though you might not know your coworker well, it would be thoughtful-and probably much appreciated-if you say something general such as, “I’m sorry to hear of your loss.” You can leave it at just that-unless, of course, she wants to talk further. You don’t need to send a card, but again, it would be a nice gesture-either in place of or in addition to saying something. And remember that it’s better to write a short personal message on a card rather than just sign your name.
