The engagement
Pet ownership became closely connected with changing workplace routines and rising household expenses. MetLife wanted to understand how these pressures were affecting employed pet owners—and what the findings could reveal about pet care, financial wellbeing and employee benefits.
The research approach
Across two studies, CITE Research surveyed more than 2,000 employed U.S. pet owners. The first examined how returning to in-person work could affect pets, their owners’ finances and employees’ expectations of workplace support. The second explored how rising pet-care costs and broader economic uncertainty were affecting pet owners, with additional analysis across generations.
From findings to impact
The research gave MetLife original consumer data for communications, educational content and conversations about pet insurance and employee benefits. MetLife used the return-to-work findings to develop separate guides for employees and employers, while the subsequent study became the foundation of company content examining the financial stress facing pet owners.
Highlighted result
More than 2,000 employed pet owners participated across two studies examining the financial, workplace and wellbeing dimensions of pet ownership.
Methodology
CITE Research conducted two online surveys on behalf of MetLife: one among 1,000 U.S. adult employees who owned a dog, a cat or both and had worked remotely during at least part of the pandemic, and another among 1,012 employed U.S. adult pet owners.