Resources
Chambliss Estate Planning Newsletter – January 2026
Supporting Grief in the Workplace
By: Sally Brewer
Grief is a complicated but universal experience. Still, how you and your colleague handle it around the water cooler is anything but typical. Let’s take inventory of your approach to a coworker’s loss. By sharing what I’ve experienced as a family caregiver and elder care advocate, perhaps you will tuck away these nuggets for the next time of need.
As with any difficult situation, discovery is the first step in overcoming. Let’s first understand that grieving is a physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological response to a devastating event that consumes us with discomfort, confusion, and isolation. For our understanding and recovery, researchers give us five stages of grief. However, placing our sorrow in silos assumes our misery comes in systematic phases — it doesn’t. Grief ebbs and flows.
If you think about it, we spend so much of our lives at work, inevitably establishing closeness with office mates. These bonds give rise to sharing the many celebrations of life. We may offer kind words and well wishes to our comrades during seasonal sickness or personal woes; however, it’s usually the silent treatment when a loss or death occurs. This is the time that colleagues will scurry past our workstations for at least a month. Lengthy grieving can make people uncomfortable. When our happy face returns, coworkers reappear like nothing ever happened.
What if we adopted a culture of caring through grief? There are very simple ways to make a difference in a coworker’s life during their time of need. Do not underestimate your support!
Is the workplace griever a colleague?
- It’s ok you feel uncomfortable. Don’t worry so much about what you say, just be there.
- Confront the loss by sending a friendly email, text, or sticky note; then give space.
- Resist the urge to offer advice, just listen.
- Don’t assume they want to share with you.
- Don’t avoid saying the decedent’s name.
- Don’t offer a cliché like, “I know how you feel” or “they are in a better place.”
- Don’t judge how they grieve, yet offer patience and understanding.
- Check back with your somber coworker in a month after others have tapered off and begin again at the top of the list.
Are you the workplace griever?
- Try to understand that your colleagues have no idea how to approach your loss.
- Recognize that grief will control you less as you grieve more.
- Put your despair on paper (writing makes us think and sort things out).
- Do not make major decisions for at least one year after your loss.
- Enjoy the lingering smells and wear the decedent’s favorite shirt.
- Do not remove or throw away any of their belongings for at least one year.
- Do not wash their clothes right away.
If you are a member of an HR team trying to understand the workplace griever:
- Always lead with empathy.
- Recognize grief cannot clock in or out.
- Adopt new approaches to grieving employees by calling them on their last bereavement day and asking what their expectations are upon return, then share with coworkers.
- Acknowledge that, unfortunately, time does not heal all wounds.
You can do this, my nine-to-fiver! Adopt your new approach today with these inspirational nuggets and ponder these words from hospice guru, Barbara Karnes: “Grief is like a wound. At first, it is open, bleeding, raw, painful, and then it heals from the inside out.”
If you need support getting organized after the loss of a loved one, our Essential Considerations Upon the Death of a Spouse or Family Member memo is a helpful place to start. When you feel ready, and as healing continues, our team is here to walk alongside you and help with next steps. Please contact elder care paralegal, Sally Brewer, for guidance on updating estate planning documents or to request a complimentary copy of The Grieving Brain, which offers insight into the science of loss.
Estate Planning Resources
How Higher Medicare Costs Will Affect Older Adults in 2026
At a time when we are frequently confronting the rising cost of living, Medicare enrollees will soon see a rise in their premiums and deductibles. In mid-November 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles for 2026…
New Long-Term Care Insurance Premium Deductions for 2026
According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the number of Americans ages 65 and older will increase to 82 million seniors by 2050. As the population of older adults in the U.S. rises, so will the need for long-term care…
Dyslexia Screenings in Early Education
The National Literacy Institute (NLI) estimates that 40% of students in the U.S. struggle with reading, a gateway skill necessary for academic and professional success. Up to one in five students may have dyslexia, a learning disability affecting reading. Children with dyslexia can benefit from additional support and accommodations to help them reach their academic potential…
Upcoming Events
YMCA Adaptive Programs
Where: YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga offers a wide variety of adaptive programs for individuals of all ages, including adaptive group exercise classes, swim lessons, sports clinics, and more! To learn more, visit the YMCA website.
Chattanooga Therapeutic Recreation Services Chillin’ Like Villains Adult Social Group Sweetheart Dance
Where: Chattanooga Zoo l When: February 5, 2026
Chillin’s annual Sweetheart Dance will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the zoo’s Education Building. Join the group for dancing, games, and desserts. Attire is encouraged to be festive, whether that be Valentine’s theme, dressy, or silly! For more information or to RSVP by February 2, 2026, email Ella Boeke at eboeke@chattanooga.gov or call 828-808-1395.
Catalyst Sports Adaptive Indoor Climbing
Where: High Point Climbing Gym l When: February 17, 2026
Catalyst Sports is a nonprofit organization based out of Atlanta whose mission focuses on empowering people by providing the highest quality of adaptive sports for those with disabilities. The clinic is from 6-8 p.m. for individuals, ages 5 and up, with physical disabilities. To sign up for either event, visit Catalyst Sports events page.
Chattanooga Therapeutic Recreation Services T-Recs
Where: Greenway Farms Conference Center l When: February 19, 2026
T-Recs is a teen social and recreation group for individuals with disabilities, ages 13-17 years old, that meets on the third Thursday of each month to play games, socialize, explore the outdoors, go on outings into the community, and more. The goal of the program is to increase social skills while participating in leisure and recreation opportunities with peers. Participants need to exhibit adequate emotional regulation to be redirected verbally or with visual supports and are not a harm to self or others. The group will meet from 4-6 p.m. and there is no cost to attend. For more information, email Nate Sirmans at nsirmans@chattanooga.gov or call 423-643-6091.
