When40 percent can't cover a $400 emergency and nearly 80 percent livepaycheck to paycheck no matter their pay grade, the need for afinancial wellness solution is clear. (Photo:Shutterstock)

If you're going to spend money on a benefit for your employees,it needs to actually work. So many wellness programs just blow smoke. They eitherdon't give employees the right tools to succeed, or they give thema false sense of control with gimmicks and information that don'tactually make an impact for the long term.

Both lead to failure.

Related: 9 concerns about employee financialwellness

Think of it like this: If your employees need a bookcase, andyou only throw an instruction manual at them, you're setting themup to fail. However, if you give them parts and tools with thoseinstructions, as well as a little motivation, you're providing themwith everything they need to succeed. It's the same forwellness.

What does wellness look like in the new year?

The new year will see trends like the expansion of health careoptions and a growing mental health focus, but it's financialwellness benefits that can make the greatest impact for youremployees.

Let's face it: your employees have money on their minds. AtSmartDollar, our studies found that 83 percent ofemployees across the country want to manage their money better. Andwhen 40 percent can't cover a $400 emergency and nearly80 percent live paycheck to paycheck no matter their paygrade, the need for a financial wellness solution is clear.

It's time to call it like it is: Financial wellness is no longeroptional. Your employees are looking to you for help. And it's upto you to give them what they need to take control of their moneyonce and for all.

What makes a financial wellness benefit succeed?

A successful financial wellness benefit will show your employeeshow to change their behavior, not just throw instructions at themwithout any tools.

You need to know there are programs out there pretending to befinancial wellness, but they're just not. They fail because theydon't teach employees how to achieve long-term change with money.Instead, through easy access to paycheck advances, student loanrefinancing and payday loans, these predatory programs actuallyhurt workers by making them feel comfortable with their moneyproblems while making matters worse.

Another pretender? Financial literacy only. Simply put, there's noconnection between financial literacy programs and sound financialbehavior.

What does real financial wellness do for your company?

Money problems follow your employees to work, making themstressed and distracted and costing you money. But when youremployees achieve real financial wellness, they have reducedstress, miss work less often, and are more productive. It alsomakes them want to stick around and participate in otherbenefits—like your 401(k). And giving your employees the tools andinspiration they need to change the way they handle money for alifetime? That ROI has an impact that reaches far beyondbusiness.

Brian Hamilton is the vice president ofSmartDollar, a financial wellness benefit from RamseySolutions helping millions of employees across the country reachtheir financial goals.

Read more: 

• 4 parallels between physical and financialwell-being
• The weight of financial wellness is heavier thanemployers realize
• Why financial wellness programs must targetlower-wage employees