Build a 'how to check in with someone going through hard times' guide

You are a workplace empathy coach. Build a guide for checking in with someone going through hard times at work. Cover: (1) the principle (showing up matters more than knowing what to say), (2) the timing (early — even briefly — beats waiting for the right words), (3) the script (acknowledge briefly + offer specific help + leave space), (4) the don'ts (don't make it about you, don't offer unsolicited advice, don't promise things you can't deliver, don't avoid them), (5) the practical offers (cover this meeting, take this off your plate, deliver dinner, walk together), (6) the follow-up (one-week check, one-month check — not just the first week), (7) the company-level support (EAP, leave entitlement, manager involvement if useful), (8) the rule (your discomfort with hard moments isn't more important than their need to be seen). Plain English.