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Grief in the workplace

An introduction to theory and practice
Tr?stende H?nde

Grief does not end at the office door!

In Germany, around one million people die every year, 10 – 20 % of whom are of working age. They are mourned, especially in the workplace. How do colleagues deal with this loss, perhaps also with a long illness? What do they do with the empty space at their desk? How do we remember appropriately? Many questions arise. How does grief work in the workplace?

Period:

20/2/2026 (One-day seminar)

Status:
Free places
Registration end:
Format:
Seminar
Degree:
Certificate of attendance
Requirements:

none

Participation fee:

690 Euro

At a glance

It is not only colleagues who die; grief is also present in the private context and is an important life issue that also has an impact on work. Employees grieve for close relatives, parents, sometimes children and often also for clients, pupils or students. In addition to great sympathy, it is not uncommon for them to feel shocked and uncertain. What helps colleagues, relatives and loved ones and how can work be organised in a new and perhaps different way?

In the seminar, we look at grief and experiences of loss. What is grief, why is it often particularly difficult in the workplace and what exactly can be done when colleagues are grieving? Who does what? What words are comforting? What good examples already exist?

Lecturers

  • Prof Dr Karin Borck, University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
  • Frauke Zimmermann (freelance supervisor, counsellor at Beiersdorf AG for the topic of grief in the workplace in Hamburg)

Mode of operation

  • practice-orientated
  • Lecture and discussion
  • Exchange of experience
  • Workshop unit

Target groups

The training is aimed at HR managers, executives and all interested employees who would like to learn more about the topics of grief and death:

  • Specialists and managers from the areas of personnel development, health management
  • Employees in social and educational professions and
  • Coaches, counsellors, psychologists, educators, therapists and doctors
Prof. Dr. Karin Borck

We have to be honest with ourselves: serious illnesses, crises, death and grief – they don't really fit in with our idea of a career. Death and grief are unsettling, they disrupt our usual routines and all certainties seem lost. This topic will occupy us even more in the future.

Prof. Dr. Karin Borck
Scientific management

Related article

  • Core competence: sensitivity – an article from brand eins on dealing with grief and sensitive situations in the working environment.
    Read the article

Registration & Information

ZEW – Further Education Unit

Room 1.10
Coordination & Organisation ZEW

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