Beyond burnout: exploring occupational stressors, resilience and retention among Funeral directors

Funeral directors (FDs) face repeated and prolonged exposure to many potentially stressful factors while engaging in their profession. Anecdotal and small study evidence suggests that a high number of FDs are leaving the field and experience poor mental health and burnout. There remain, however, significant gaps in understanding the FD experience. This study, based in Ontario, Canada, analyzes survey responses from 581 current and former FDs to explore their experiences, why some left the profession, and why some stay. Quantitative ProQOL measures show that FDs have high compassion satisfaction scores while surprisingly low levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions revealed three major themes driving FDs to leave or consider leaving the field: working conditions, unhappy work environment, and burnout/trauma/stress. The major factors keeping FDs in the field are the work environment, enjoyment/love of their job, and a lack of other options or interest in change. This research advances understanding of the complex occupational challenges faced by FDs and the factors driving their resilience, offers insight into the gaps between FD education and lived experience highlighting critical areas for improvement in both training and workplace practices that will help meet the needs of funeral service as a whole.