11 Oct 2023

MetLife report: The Last Word

This MetLife report explores the importance of opening up the conversation around death, what it means in the workplace, and how we can begin to influence change.

Tackling the death and funeral planning taboo, this report sets out to open new conversations about ‘the last taboo’ – talking about our deaths, our funerals and making plans for what needs to happen after we’ve moved on.

Key areas explored:

UK families are financially exposed through a lack of planning, 45% say they felt stressed when considering how the cost of the funeral would be covered
Ignorance is far from bliss; more than 1 in 4 are left to make decisions, such as whether their loved one wanted to be buried or cremated
The areas of support people say would make the greatest practical and emotional difference to them, before and after death
The solutions people really need from their employers, above and beyond essential time off to grieve and make arrangements.

The report insights are based on research with 2,000 people across the UK. It uncovers the emotional, financial (and wider) risks many families are exposing themselves to by not planning in advance – and the positive legacy we can leave behind by having conversations about death, earlier in life.