Corporate Sympathy

The Passing of a Co-Worker

May 31, 2011

Dear Caring Carol, A coworker of mine who recently retired passed away yesterday. I feel uncomfortable going to the funeral because I won’t know anyone there, as I never met his family. Would it be rude of me not to go, seeing as we worked together for over 2 years? I feel like it would [...]

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Sending Sympathy Cards From Management

March 22, 2011

Dear Caring Carol, I’ve recently been promoted to a management position at my company. While I feel pretty confident about my new career responsibilities, I’m finding myself insecure on some social etiquette. Previously, when co-workers experienced deaths in their families, unless an individual was a personal friend to me, all I had to do was [...]

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Must I Contribute to the Cost of Flowers and Cards for a Work Funeral?

February 15, 2011

Dear Caring Carol, I’m going to the funeral of someone who worked at my company, but in another division. Even though we both worked at the same company for years, I’ve actually never even met him. Is it proper etiquette to pay my share for flowers and the sympathy card, or can I say no? [...]

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Sympathy Cards and Gossiping Co-Workers

February 8, 2011

Dear Caring Carol, A co-worker’s father-in-law died. Because I don’t socialize with this person outside of work, I just waited until I saw him back in the office and then I said, “Sorry for your loss.” If it had been his actual father who had died, I would have probably sent him a sympathy card. [...]

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Sending Sympathy Cards to a Client’s Company and Family

December 7, 2010

Dear Caring Carol, One of our Company’s very best clients recently passed away. While we knew him very well, we had limited contact with his company and no contact at all with his family. Would it be appropriate to send sympathy cards to both the office and family? Lacey Dear Lacey, I know sometimes we [...]

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