The financial resilience blueprint

There has been growing recognition by many areas of society that changes need to be made and urgent support put in place to ensure workers are able to foster financial resilience against these pressures - and the leader of this charge has been employers themselves. 

The Employee Perspective: The Burden of Financial Stress

To understand the ugly truth of the impact of financial stress on employees - you only have to skim the surface of the data surrounding the subject:

• Financial concerns are the top worry for employees (31%) in 2025 (up from 19% in 2024)
• 27% worry about money every single day
• Savings are down (a third have £500 or less) and borrowing is up (over a fifth are borrowing more) 

This paints a stark picture of the financial vulnerability experienced by a significant portion of the UK workforce. In fact, 42% of employees report feeling overwhelmed by financial concerns, highlighting the sheer scale of the issue.

For many, saving seems like an unattainable goal, with 45% believing it's unrealistic to set aside any money this year. This environment of persistent financial strain creates a heavy burden for employees, impacting their daily lives and overall wellbeing.

The Employer Opportunity: A Strategic Imperative

Employers are the natural fit when it comes to leading the way on supporting the UK’s workers, they after all have the most important financial relationship with their employees - they are the ones who pay them. In fact, research from Censuswide found that 46% of UK employees believe that their employer cares about their financial health, compared with just 32% and 20% believing the same of banks and the government. 

This level of trust places employers in a unique position to make a real difference. Supporting employee financial resilience isn't just a socially responsible move; it's a strategic imperative that yields tangible business returns. Forward-thinking organisations are beginning to recognize that fostering financially resilient teams translates to a more engaged, productive, and loyal workforce.  

The Business Case: Tangible Returns on Investment

The data speaks for itself: investing in employee financial resilience drives positive business outcomes.

• Retention - holding onto your MVPs: Offering workplace savings support can significantly boost employee retention. 28% of employees say they would stay longer with an employer who provides such support, and 18% report they would work harder. Conversely, the cost of losing valuable employees is high, with over 20% of employee turnover potentially linked to financial stress. Investing in resilience is a clear opportunity to reduce those costs.  
• Engagement & Productivity - unlocking peak performance: When organisations prioritise their employees' financial wellbeing, they witness a significant uplift in engagement and productivity. Companies that invest in savings support see an average increase of 43% in employee engagement and a 40% rise in productivity. Employees who are empowered to build savings feel a greater sense of pride (33%) and report improved wellbeing. In fact, 25% state that doubling their savings feels better than going on holiday!  
• Stress Reduction - clearing the mental fog: Financial stress is a productivity vampire, and has a direct impact on the workplace. 31% of employees report that money worries negatively affect their work performance. By providing tangible financial support, employers can reduce this stress and free up employees' mental bandwidth, allowing them to focus on their work.

Creating a Win-Win Scenario

Ultimately, fostering financial resilience creates a win-win scenario for both employees and employers. By taking a holistic approach and offering long-term solutions that address the fundamental "cost of life," not just the immediate "cost of living," companies can build a stronger, more stable workforce. This requires moving beyond generic, one-size-fits-all benefits and providing a comprehensive suite of support that empowers every employee to achieve genuine and lasting financial resilience. In today's world, where financial uncertainty is a constant presence, the employers that prioritise and invest in the financial wellbeing of their employees are the ones that will thrive.

Read more in our latest report: The Missing Metric