Expressing condolence via email?

[sap483]

Yay or nay, is it bad etiquette to send a condolence message to a colleague who has lost a parent via email? My boss just informed me that his boss just lost his mother. I have only met him on one occasion and do not have his home address. Normally, I would always send a personal note via mail. However, in this situation, should I try to find his address or is it ok to send him an email?

 

[lyra]

Nay on email. Try to find his address.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/27/2009 10:07:10 AM
Author:sap483
Yay or nay, is it bad etiquette to send a condolence message to a colleague who has lost a parent via email? My boss just informed me that his boss just lost his mother. I have only met him on one occasion and do not have his home address. Normally, I would always send a personal note via mail. However, in this situation, should I try to find his address or is it ok to send him an email?

Definitely not email, get the address if you can and write a letter.

 

[tlh]

Ditto. Propper ettiquete would dictate a handwritten letter.

However, I do think whenever anyone has a loss, they can use all the love they can get... even if it is an email. I would try all attempts to get an address to mail a letter, and if because it is a business associate, that does change things. I''d write a handwritten note, and see if your office wants to get together and give him a plant, when he returns, or send flowers to the funeral.

 

[chrono]

My experience in the corporate world is that a card is sent.

 

[gemgirl]

No, not by email. Email is a great convenience for all of us but something as serious as someone''s passing, even if you didn''t know them personally, is best handled the old fashioned respectful way. Have someone give you an address and either go to Hallmark for a beautifully worded card or hand write a note on nice stationary or a blank card.

 

[Lulie]

OMG Please don''t, emails aren''t personal at all, letters/flowers/cards either one says lots about you .02

 

[monarch64]

Definitely "no" on emailing condolences. Locate the address and send personal correspondence.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

E-mail is by far too impersonal to convey condelences...dropping a card or note is better...even if it takes you a day or two to find his address. It''s just far more appropriate.

 

[bee*]

I''d be another that would say no to email. I''d try and get the address and send a card.

 

[MishB]

A card would be preferable, however, if there is no other way to do it, you should send the email. When my father died a few years ago, I was a little shocked by the number of people I worked with who didn''t even mention it to me, just acted like it had never happened when I returned to work. It''s not like they didn''t know, because I was at work when I got the news.