How to use benefits to better support bereaved employees
The death of a loved one is one of the most stressful times people ever have to face. But, the feelings of grief, loss and anxiety can be made worse as, due to a lack of experience and little support, we’re often unsure how to arrange a funeral.
Taboos about death mean people rarely talk about their own after death arrangements. Research involving 2,000 people in the UK for MetLife found that just 14% of people have discussed their funeral wishes with loved ones. Even among the recently bereaved, 51% were not aware of any of the deceased’s wishes.
Even when someone has experience of arranging a funeral, making decisions during this emotionally charged time is far from easy. Having to choose everything from the right funeral director to the deceased’s favourite music and poetry, while dealing with grief, can be a struggle.
On top of this, additional tensions can potentially arise as a result of a loved one’s death. Family differences and disputes are likely to be magnified and financial issues can quickly emerge.
Financial pressures
Even before any arguments over inheritances, paying for the funeral can be a major source of stress. Costs vary country-wide and depend on the arrangements wanted, but even the most basic service can quickly add up.
Just under half (45%) of respondents say they feel stressed when considering how they’d pay for a funeral and 23% admit the cost was more than they expected. Having to find this money suddenly can also be difficult, with 11% of respondents saying they had to alter some of the arrangements to reduce costs.
Ignoring the fact that death is an inevitable part of life can have some terrible consequences for our loved ones. Failing to make the necessary plans or even simply leaving relatives in the dark about your funeral wishes can make things difficult for them during this difficult time.
Without any planning, families can face significant financial risks. Eighty-five per cent (85%) of adults haven’t made a will, meaning their assets will be distributed in line with government rules. Sadly, these aren’t always the same as the deceased’s wishes.
Making plans
Arranging a funeral without forward planning can be financially risky too. The need to get everything arranged quickly means few people shop around for the best price, even though costs can vary widely.
The increased use of passwords to protect important information can also create problems. If these details aren’t shared before death, it can lock loved ones out of documents including wills, financial information and family photos and videos.
What support would be valued?
Given the potential for risks and additional stress, the research highlights the support that the bereaved would have found most valuable at this time. While support and understanding from work (24%) was top of the wish list, they also valued awareness of their loved one’s wishes (23%) and a better understanding of what needed to be done (21%).
Employers clearly have an important role to play during this time. As well as supporting employees with the time off to grieve and make funeral arrangements, employers can also help to encourage planning for death.
By helping people put the necessary plans in place, whether that’s life insurance cover or access to a funeral concierge service, it will make discussions around death more acceptable and save loved ones the additional emotional and financial pain the uncertainty can bring.
Download our report, The Last Word, to understand the importance of opening up the conversation around death, what it means in the workplace and how we can begin to influence change.
All data from MetLife’s The Last Word report, 2023.
In partnership with MetLife
At MetLife our aim is to help businesses prepare for the future, perform at their best and protect their people.
