“Our latest report shows that financial stress continues to dominate both U.K. and U.S. employees, directly eroding productivity and engagement, but this is a challenge employers are perfectly placed to address,” Prelini Udayan-Chiechi, chief marketing officer at Wagestream, said in a statement. “The message is clear: Building financial resilience isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a powerful metric for business performance, driving productivity, retention, and above all, happier teams.”

To that end, the report also suggests ways in which organizations can build a more productive and healthier workforce. They include the following:

• Implement practical toolkits: Move beyond generic education to practical tools addressing short, medium, and long-term needs – including budgeting support, savings schemes, flexible ways to get paid, and money coaching.
• Prioritize financial inclusion: Recognize that traditional financial products exclude those with low and/or volatile income. Additionally, offer inclusive alternatives such as access to flexible pay and fair, affordable workplace loans to provide lifelines and potentially help build positive credit history. 
• Foster savings habits: Offering workplace savings based on an opt-out rather than an opt-in basis is a powerful way to increase savings participation. A full two-thirds of employees say they want saving to be as automatic and effortless as pensions.

“When employees feel financially secure, they show up more focused, more motivated, and more committed,” Udayan-Chiechi said. “With the right data, insights and strategy, organizations can turn financial wellbeing into a game-changing advantage — crucial in today’s economic climate.”