Dive Brief:
- Employee productivity and engagement is dragged down by widespread financial stress, but organizations can help reduce worker anxiety by providing judgment-free financial education and guidance on financial wellness, according to new research from PwC.
- The company’s 2026 Employee Financial Wellness Survey found that 59% respondents said they were stressed about their finances, and 49% said their compensation wasn’t keeping up with costs. More than half (53%) said they had less than $5,000 saved for emergencies, and 30% had less than $1,000.
- Companies that help teach employees about money and asset management see positive responses, particularly from younger workers, per the survey. Eighty-three percent of Generation Z and 79% of millennial respondents whose employers offered financial wellness services said they used them to control their spending, pay off debt and increase savings.
Dive Insight:
Employees who are stressed about finances are often embarrassed to ask for financial guidance, the research found.
PwC added that one of the biggest problems was a lack of employee confidence. Fifty-two percent of respondents said they don’t feel capable of planning for long-term goals, and 41% said their education or personal background had not prepared them to manage finances.
Organizations that can ease that overwhelm can make a real difference in employees’ lives, PwC said. Respondents defined financial wellness as “less stress, fewer surprises, and the freedom to make financial choices with confidence.”
These conversations are especially relevant in light of a 2025 report from The Hartford, which found that almost three-quarters of U.S. workers said they were stressed about their finances, with 56% saying their financial health negatively affected their workplace productivity.
Notably, demystifying money is a skill that can be taught, per the report. Nearly half of employees (48%) said they were highly motivated to learn about budgeting, investing, building credit and managing debt.
This kind of employee education can not only help workers feel less anxious and more engaged, it can also help them better evaluate the workplace benefits available to them. Financial literacy programs can help workers navigate not only base compensation, but benefits that enhance perceived value, such as student loan paydown, mental health support, parental leave policies and child care assistance.
“Connect financial education directly to benefits,” the report said. “When employees understand how a particular benefit solves a real financial need, they’re more likely to use it and value it.”
