According to a paper from the ADP Research Institute titled U.S. Wage Garnishment Landscape: Through the Lens of the Employer, 7 percent of the worker population has a garnishment. If you’re a small employer you’re more likely to have employees whose wages are being garnished than if you were a large employer.

The problem of garnishment also is particularly prevalent among certain demographics of employees — but regardless of the company and employees, wage garnishment is a major factor contributing to stress at work. Understanding who these workers are and what factors are at play in their garnishment can help employers provide resources and support to alleviate their stress.

Of the segment of the working population subject to wage garnishment, 71 percent of garnishment actions involve men, 92 percent of which involve child support. The typical garnished worker is a middle-aged, male worker with children and income under $60,000.