Can we connect? Why employee financial health matters at work

Economic uncertainty, rising living costs and global instability have put sustained pressure on people's finances. But the impact goes beyond household budgets. Financial pressure can affect how people feel about their future, the support they expect from their employer and their connection to the organization they work for.

Our landmark Can we connect? research surveyed 6,750 full-time employees across 14 countries* to explore the relationship between financial health and the employee experience.

While the research was conducted at a particular moment of economic uncertainty, the findings highlight challenges that remain highly relevant for employers: financial anxiety, trust, connection, and the role workplace financial education can play in supporting people.

Here's what we found.

Financial anxiety can have a significant impact

Money worries aren't confined to people's finances. They can influence how people feel, the decisions they make, and how prepared they feel for the future.

Our research found that 37% of people were struggling financially and living paycheck to paycheck, while 70% reported feeling anxious about their financial situation.

It also uncovered important differences across the workforce. Women, for example, were underserved by financial education and less likely to feel hopeful about their financial future.

Download the report to explore the findings and what they could mean for a more inclusive financial health strategy.

There's a gap in the employer–employee connection

Financial pressure was only part of the picture. Our research also identified a disconnect between employees and their organizations, with more than half of workers believing their employer viewed employees as interchangeable and replaceable.

That matters. When people don't feel valued or supported, it can affect their relationship with their employer, including their engagement and commitment.

Younger employees reported the weakest connection with their employers, highlighting the importance of understanding what different groups across the workforce need rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

The report explores how financial education and a more relevant benefits experience can help employers strengthen that connection.

People want more than a paycheck

Despite this disconnect, employees told us they wanted a stronger relationship with the organizations they work for.

More than three-quarters (77%) agreed they wanted to work for an organization where they felt connected to its purpose and people.

And while nearly half said they showed up exclusively for the paycheck, only one-third described their relationship with their employer as entirely transactional.

There's an important distinction here. Pay matters, but it's not the whole employee experience. People also want to feel understood, valued, and supported.

Trust creates an opportunity for employers

Trust was another important theme.

More than a third (34%) of people surveyed said global instability had decreased their trust in financial institutions such as banks.

For employers, that creates both an opportunity and a responsibility. The workplace can be an important route to impartial financial education that helps people understand their options, navigate decisions, and take action without directing them towards particular financial products.

Employees value financial education at work

Against a backdrop of financial pressure and uncertainty, our research found clear demand for more support.

Financial education can help employees build their knowledge and confidence, understand their financial situation, and make informed decisions throughout different stages of life.

And employees associated that support with their relationship with their employer: 56% said financial benefits would make them more committed to their organization.

The report also explores how this relationship differs across generations, including the impact financial education can have on trust among younger employees.

Financial education can strengthen employee connection

Employers can't control inflation, market movements, or global events. But they can help their people understand and navigate the financial decisions within their control.

Impartial financial education can help employees understand their money, make informed decisions, get more from their workplace benefits and prepare for the moments that matter to them.

Our research found that employees who received financial education felt 24% more connected to their employer than those whose employers didn't provide it. They also reported 23% higher trust in their employer.

Those findings point to a broader role for financial health support. Done well, it isn't simply another benefit. It can help people feel better equipped to make financial decisions while strengthening their connection with the organization they work for.

Can we connect?

The relationship between employees, their money and their workplace continues to evolve. But one lesson from our research remains particularly relevant: supporting financial health can create value for both people and organizations.

By providing impartial, personalized financial education, employers can help their people build knowledge, confidence, and take action through everyday decisions and major life moments.

Read the full Can we connect? report to explore the global findings and discover how financial education can help strengthen employee connection.

*Research surveyed 6,750 full-time employees across 14 countries, with representation across age, gender, ethnicity and earnings. 25% of respondents earned more than USD 50,000 or the equivalent in local currency.

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