Financial stress and sleep: how employers can help

Money worries don’t necessarily stop when the workday ends.

For many U.S. employees, concerns about the economy and their finances are following them into the night. According to Bank of America’s 2026 Workplace Benefits Report, 76% of employees feel stressed about the economy, 62% are very concerned about inflation, and 21% say worrying about the economy keeps them up at night.

That connection matters. Financial stress isn’t just about money; it can affect how people feel, sleep, and function in their everyday lives.

For employers, the question is; how can you help employees build stronger financial health and feel more prepared for the financial decisions and unexpected moments they face?

How can financial stress affect sleep?

Financial uncertainty can be difficult to switch off from.

Employees may be thinking about everyday expenses, debt, an unexpected medical bill, saving for an emergency or whether they’re putting enough aside for retirement. When those concerns follow someone to bed, getting a good night’s sleep can become harder.

Bank of America’s latest research provides a clear indication of that pressure. Alongside the 21% of employees who say economic worries keep them up at night, 76% report feeling stressed about the economy.

The Federal Reserve’s 2026 Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households report provides further context. 91% of US adults said price increases were at least a minor concern in 2025, while 16% said they had not paid all their bills in full in the previous month.

Employers can’t remove every source of financial stress. But they can help employees understand their finances, navigate the support available to them and take practical action.

Understand what’s driving financial stress

There isn’t one universal cause of financial anxiety.

One employee may be worried about an unexpected health-care bill. Another may be managing debt, supporting family members, or wondering whether they’re saving enough for retirement. Others may be struggling with everyday expenses or concerned about their financial resilience.

The Federal Reserve found that 59% of U.S. adults experienced at least one major unexpected expense during 2025. Vehicle repairs or replacement were the most common, affecting 30% of adults; 22% faced a major home or appliance repair and 21% experienced an unexpected major medical expense.

That’s why effective financial health support needs to start with the individual rather than assuming everyone needs the same information at the same time.

Personalized financial education can help employees understand where they stand, identify their priorities and find relevant next steps based on their circumstances.

For employers: Consider how easy it is for employees to find and understand the support you already provide. Financial health support can help people navigate relevant workplace benefits; from retirement and health benefits to employee assistance programs and other resources available through their employer.

Help employees prepare for the unexpected

A medical bill. A car repair. A broken appliance. A sudden change in income.

Unexpected costs are part of life; being financially prepared for them isn’t always easy.

According to the Federal Reserve, 63% of US adults could cover a hypothetical $400 emergency expense using cash or its equivalent in 2025. That leaves 37% who would need to borrow, sell something, or find another way to meet some or all of the expense; 12% said they would be unable to pay the expense by any means.

Building financial resilience can help people feel better prepared when unexpected moments arrive. That might mean creating a realistic budget, gradually building emergency savings, understanding insurance coverage, or knowing which workplace benefits could help.

The goal isn’t to tell employees what to do with their money. It’s to give them the knowledge, tools, and impartial support to understand their options and make informed decisions for themselves.

For employers: Help employees turn information into action. Personalized guidance can make broad financial topics relevant to an employee’s circumstances; helping them identify manageable next steps rather than simply giving them more information to process.

Turn financial knowledge into action

Knowing what to do and actually doing it aren’t always the same thing.

Someone might understand that emergency savings are important but not know how much they can realistically set aside. They may have access to valuable workplace benefits but not understand how those benefits fit into their wider finances. Or they may know they should review their retirement savings but keep putting it off.

Strong financial health support helps close that gap.

By combining personalized financial education, intelligent technology, and human expertise, employers can help employees understand their options and take action across the financial decisions they face; from everyday money management and workplace benefits to savings, debt, and retirement.

And because financial needs change as life changes, that support needs to be ongoing rather than limited to a one-off financial wellness campaign.

Practical ways to support employee financial health

Employers can help employees feel more prepared and in control by making it easier to:

• create a realistic budget based on their income and expenses
• build emergency savings over time
• understand and make better use of workplace benefits
• review debt, savings, and retirement priorities
• access impartial financial information before making important decisions
• revisit their financial plans as life and circumstances change.

The aim isn’t simply to help employees know more about money. It’s to help them turn that knowledge into informed decisions and action.

Financial worries may not disappear overnight. But when employees have the right support to understand their finances and take practical next steps, they can build greater financial confidence and resilience; helping them feel more prepared for whatever comes next.

Want to strengthen financial health across your workforce? Get in touch