How to Write a Eulogy for Your Workmate - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Being asked to speak for a colleague can feel weird and heavy at the same time. You want to honor their life and the role they played at work. You also want to keep it appropriate for the workplace and for family who may be present. This guide gives a clear plan, examples you can steal and personalize, and delivery tips that actually work. We explain workplace terms you might hear and include templates that let you write faster without sounding robotic.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone asked to speak about a coworker at a funeral, memorial, graveside service, or an informal office gathering. Maybe you were a close friend outside work. Maybe you were a manager or a teammate who shared a desk and a bad coffee machine. Maybe you were the one who can stand in front of people and make something that sounds like a tribute instead of a list of job titles. There are examples for short tributes, formal eulogies, funny but respectful moments, and awkward or complicated workplace relationships.

What is a workplace eulogy

A workplace eulogy is a short speech given at a memorial event that focuses on the person who worked with you. It is not a performance review. It is not a list of accomplishments only. It is a personal reflection that connects the person s professional life to who they were as a human being. A good workplace eulogy recognizes the role the person played at work while also honoring their character, quirks, and impact on people.

Terms you might see or hear

• HR Human resources. This is the team that handles bereavement policies, logistics, and communications at work.
• PTO Paid time off. This includes vacation or sick days. Some companies have specific bereavement leave policies that use PTO or separate bereavement days.
• EAP Employee assistance program. A resource that may offer grief counseling and support to employees after a death.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral or memorial. If the family has an order of service, stick to it so you do not unexpectedly change the flow.
• Memorial gathering An informal workplace event where people share memories. This can be at the office, a rented room, or online.
• Sympathy note A card or email sent to family or colleagues expressing condolences.

How long should a workplace eulogy be

Shorter is usually better. Aim for between two and five minutes. That is about 250 to 600 spoken words. Many workplace events have multiple speakers or need to respect time for HR announcements and moment of silence. A concise, honest tribute is often more memorable than a long speech that repeats itself.

Before you start writing

Take a quick safety check before you draft anything.

• Check with family and HR Confirm whether the family wants workpeople to speak at the public service. If the event is a private family funeral, a workplace memorial should be separate and respectful of family wishes.
• Clarify expectations Ask the person who asked you to speak how long they expect you to take and whether colleagues or managers will also speak.
• Decide the tone Is this a formal funeral, a celebration of life, or a casual office gathering? Match your tone to the event and the person s personality.
• Gather input Ask two or three coworkers for a quick memory or a trait they admired. These small quotes can give your speech texture and prevent it from sounding like a list.
• Choose a focus Pick one to three themes to center the speech on. Examples are generosity, leadership, punctuality with a sense of humor, or mentorship.

Structure that works for a workmate

Use a simple shape to keep your remarks tidy.

• Opening Say your name and your role, and briefly state why you are speaking.
• Work life sketch Give a quick, simple summary of their role at work and one detail that shows how they did that job.
• Anecdotes Share one or two short stories that show character. Keep them workplace friendly and not overly private.
• Personal impact Explain what people learned from them or how they changed your team or culture.
• Closing Offer a simple goodbye line, a quote the person loved, or an invitation for the team to remember them through a small action like contributing to a memorial fund or planting a tree.

Opening examples you can use

• Hello. I am Maya from product. I worked with James for five years and I am honored to say a few words about how he made our team feel safe to try hard things.
• Good afternoon. I am Tom, Ella s manager. Ella joined our team as an intern and became the person we called when the build was about to fail and we needed someone calm and brilliant.
• Hi everyone. I am Priya. I sat next to Sam and he taught me how to load the coffee machine without starting a small office rebellion.

How to write the work life sketch

This is not a resume. Think of it as a quick portrait that situates the person in the workplace and shows one meaningful detail.

Work sketch templates

• [Name] joined [Company] in [year]. They worked as [role] and they were known for [trait].
• [Name] started here as [entry position] and within [time period] they were teaching others how to [specific skill].

Anecdotes that are safe and memorable

People remember stories. Keep workplace anecdotes short, sensory, and with a tiny payoff that explains why it mattered to colleagues.

Examples

• Once during a major launch the server crashed. While everyone panicked, Alex calmly ordered two pizzas, sat down at the console, and joked that pizza makes code run faster. The launch went live and we ate cold pizza at midnight. That trust and calm helped us keep going.
• Emma would mark every birthday on a shared calendar and show up with a tiny desk plant. The plant was less about botany and more about her way of saying we count for something here.
• When someone messed up a report, Ravi would not scold. He would ask to see the draft and then stay late to walk through one fix. He taught more with patience than he ever did in meetings.

When the relationship was complicated

Work relationships can be messy. You do not need to pretend you were best friends. You can speak honestly and respectfully about complexity.

Examples for complicated but truthful remarks

• We did not always agree with Morgan at work. She pushed back hard in meetings and it was sometimes uncomfortable. Over time I learned that her blunt questions made our work better. That honesty will be missed.
• Daniel could be a driver of tight deadlines. He taught us to move faster even when it felt stressful. I am grateful for the discipline he brought and for the times he also brought doughnuts.

Using humor in the workplace eulogy

Humor can help people breathe. Use small, earned jokes tied to real stories. Avoid anything that could embarrass the person s family or single out a colleague in a negative way.

Safe humor examples

• Jules had a talent for starting meetings with the phrase I have a quick thing and then the meeting lasted an hour. The quick things were never quick, but they were always interesting.
• She kept a mug that said World s Okayest Analyst. She loved the mug because it was a joke about her perfectionism and a reminder not to take ourselves too seriously.

What to avoid in a workplace eulogy

• Avoid confidential information or gossip. This is not the place for HR issues or unresolved disputes.
• Avoid jokes about layoffs, funding, or company failures that could be misread as insensitive.
• Avoid turning the speech into a policy statement about workplace safety or morale. Those conversations belong elsewhere.
• Avoid reading a long list of job tasks without a human detail attached. People want stories not bullet points.

Full examples you can adapt

Example 1: Short informal office tribute, about two minutes

Hello everyone. I am Sam from marketing. I sat across the aisle from Nina for three years and I watched her make our messy deadlines feel somehow possible. Nina loved spreadsheets with a weird devotion that made the rest of us suspicious and grateful. She had a habit of leaving sticky notes on monitors with tiny compliments like Nice work or You got this. Those notes are a small example of how she showed up. She made our Monday mornings less bleak and she made the team kinder. We will miss her notes and her laugh. Thank you for being here today.

Example 2: Formal eulogy from a manager, about four minutes

Good afternoon. I am Daniel, director of engineering. I had the privilege of working with Priya for seven years. She joined our team as a junior developer and became a lead who others trusted with hard problems. Priya had an unusual mix of technical skill and empathy. She would debug the system and then check in on the engineer who stayed late to fix it. Her work helped us launch three major products and saved us from several late night fires. More importantly she taught us how to mentor with patience and how to celebrate small wins. I will remember her calm voice in a crisis and the way she left sticky notes with tiny drawings when someone shipped a feature. On behalf of the team I want to thank Priya s family for sharing her with us. We are better for having known her.

Example 3: Short, honest for a complicated workplace relationship

Hi. I am Laura from sales. I did not always see eye to eye with Mark. He could be blunt and direct and that made some conversations hard. Over time I learned that his directness came from a place of wanting the best for the client and for the company. He pushed me to be sharper and to stand behind my numbers. Even in our disagreements I respected him. I will miss his clarity and his unwillingness to accept anything less than excellent.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates to get started. Swap in details and practice them out loud.

Template A: Short office tribute

My name is [Your Name] and I worked with [Name] on [team or project]. [Name] joined in [year] and was known for [trait]. One small memory that shows who they were is [brief story]. That memory shows how they [impact]. We will miss [what people will miss].

Template B: Manager tribute

Hello. I am [Your Name], [role]. [Name] joined our team as [role] and grew into [role or trait]. They helped the team by [concrete example]. Beyond their work they were [personal trait]. On behalf of the team I want to say thank you to [Name s family or friends].

Template C: For awkward relationships

My name is [Your Name]. I did not always agree with [Name] but I learned a lot from them about [skill or value]. One thing I will remember is [short story]. It taught me [lesson].

Practical tips for delivery

• Write it down Use a printed copy with large font. Index cards work well for short cues.
• Mark emotional beats Put a bracket or underline where you want to pause and breathe. Pauses give the audience time to react.
• Practice out loud Read it twice or three times. Practice reveals awkward phrasing and helps you control pace.
• Bring tissues and water It is normal to cry. A quick sip of water can steady your voice.
• Coordinate with HR Let HR know you will speak and give them a copy if the company plans to archive or share it.
• Keep it professional Even if the environment is casual, remember family may be present. Aim for dignity and warmth.
• Arrange tech If you need a microphone or will speak at a virtual memorial, test the setup ahead of time.

When you are asked to speak on behalf of the company

If you are representing the company, coordinate with HR and leadership. Provide a copy for review if requested but resist turning the speech into corporate speak. People want authenticity. A simple format that acknowledges the family, the person s role, and the human detail will often land better than a statement full of jargon.

Sending condolences and follow up

• If family members request privacy, respect that in your messages and on social media.
• Consider organizing a team memory book or a virtual message board where coworkers can share short notes and photos.
• If the family is accepting donations, confirm the preferred charity or memorial fund before sharing details widely.
• Point colleagues to EAP or HR resources if they need counseling or time off.

Glossary of workplace terms and acronyms

• HR Human resources. The team that handles employee policies, bereavement leave, and official communications.
• PTO Paid time off. Time off that an employee is paid for. Some companies include bereavement leave under PTO.
• EAP Employee assistance program. A program that offers confidential counseling and support services for employees.
• Order of service The planned sequence of a funeral or memorial. This helps speakers know where they fit.
• Memorial fund A fund set up in the person s name for donations. The family usually provides details.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start if I am nervous

Begin with your name and your role so listeners know your connection. Practice a one sentence opening until it feels steady. That gives you time to breathe and to settle into the rest of your words.

What if I cannot stop crying

Pause and breathe. Look down at your notes. If you need a moment let the audience know you will take one and then continue. If you cannot continue, have a colleague or HR representative ready to finish a short closing line.

Can I use workplace humor

Yes but use small, kind jokes tied to real memories. Avoid anything that could embarrass family or single out coworkers in a negative way.

Is it okay to mention work achievements

Yes. Mention achievements that show the person s contribution. Pair achievements with a human detail so the speech does not sound like a resume read aloud.

Who should I check with before speaking

Check with the family if possible and with HR if you are speaking on behalf of the company. Respect family wishes and company protocols about sharing photos, recordings, or donation details.

How long should a workplace eulogy be

Two to five minutes is a good target. Coordinate with other speakers so the total time for tributes fits the event.