Grief@Work – Understanding grief models
Helping organisations support grief with confidence, compassion and practical guidance.
Grief is a deeply personal experience, and no single model can fully explain how someone will respond to loss. However, grief theories and frameworks can offer useful ways to understand the different emotional, cognitive, physical, and social experiences that may occur after bereavement.
For workplaces, these models provide a helpful foundation for recognising that grief is not linear, predictable, or something a person simply “gets over”.
They can help managers, HR teams, and colleagues understand:
- why people may respond differently to the same type of loss
- why grief can continue long after someone returns to work
- how concentration, communication, relationships, and wellbeing may be affected
- why flexible, compassionate support matters
Explore the grief models below to better understand bereavement and how these insights can inform more supportive workplaces.
Why understand grief models at work?
When someone returns to work after a bereavement, their grief may not always be visible.
A colleague may:
- struggle with concentration or decision-making
- appear withdrawn or overwhelmed
- have good days followed by difficult ones
- need support long after bereavement leave ends
Grief models help workplaces move away from assumptions and towards compassionate, flexible support.
👉 For more video guides, visit our Grief@Work Video Guides page
Featured grief models for workplace support
The Five-Stage Model of Grief
The five-stage model describes grief through:
- denial
- anger
- bargaining
- depression
- acceptance
While widely recognised, it has been criticised for suggesting grief happens in a fixed order. Modern approaches recognise grief as more individual and non-linear.
At work: Avoid expecting someone to “move through” grief stages before returning to normal. Support should focus on the individual, not a timeline.
👉 Learn more: Five-stage model of grief
The Dual Process Model of Grief
The Dual Process Model suggests people move between two types of experiences:
Loss-oriented coping
- focusing on the person who died
- remembering
- feeling sadness and longing
Restoration-oriented coping
- rebuilding routines
- adapting to life changes
- managing practical tasks
At work: An employee may switch between needing space to grieve and wanting normality or distraction.
👉 Learn more: The Dual Process Model of Grief
The Two-Track Model of Grief
The Two-Track Model recognises that grief involves two connected areas:
Track 1: The impact of the loss
- emotional pain
- thoughts and memories
- relationship with the person who died
Track 2: The impact on everyday life
- physical wellbeing
- work functioning
- relationships
- identity
At work: Someone may appear to be functioning but still be experiencing significant internal grief.
👉 Learn more: The Two-Track Model of Grief
Attachment Theory and Grief
Attachment theory explains that grief is linked to the bonds we form with people we love.
The loss of someone important disrupts our sense of connection and security.
At work: Understanding attachment helps managers recognise that grief is not simply “being upset” – it is the adjustment to a major relational change.
👉 Learn more: Attachment Theory and Grief
Which grief model is best?
There is no single “correct” grief model.
Each framework highlights different aspects of the grief experience. The most helpful approach is usually one that recognises grief as personal, changing, and influenced by someone’s circumstances.
Learn more about grief models and compare them side by side over on our Grief Models Hub.
Free PDF Guide: How to Support Your Grieving Employee
Learn how to respond sensitively, communicate appropriately, and support bereaved employees in the workplace.
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Our toolkits help provide the support your grieving employee needs…
Our practical workplace toolkits help managers, HR teams and organisations support grieving employees with more confidence, compassion and clarity.
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Taking grief understanding into the workplace
Grief models can help us understand the different ways people respond to loss, but knowing the theory is only the first step.
For organisations, the challenge is turning grief awareness into practical support – helping managers, HR teams, and colleagues respond with compassion, confidence, and understanding when someone is grieving.
Our workplace bereavement training combines:
Our sessions combine:
🧠 Evidence-informed grief knowledge
Understand how grief affects thoughts, emotions, behaviour, and wellbeing.
💬 Practical workplace guidance
Build confidence in having supportive conversations and responding to different grief experiences.
🤝 Tools for supporting employees
Learn practical approaches for check-ins, boundaries, communication, and ongoing support.
🌱 Strategies for grief-aware cultures
Create workplaces where bereavement is recognised with flexibility, empathy, and care.
Training and support areas include:
🏫 Bereavement training for schools
🏢 Workplace bereavement training
🤍 Bereavement training for social workers