Although group life insurance policies and retirement plans are far more widespread in the workplace than financial wellness programs, new data indicates that businesses should seriously consider Why Financial Wellness is Important. Employers bear the penalties when workers don’t know how to handle changes in their financial situation or don’t comprehend their financial situation.
Fitness and diet are the main focuses of conventional wellness perspectives. Honestly, everyone’s life would be better if they followed the ideal diet and exercise regimen.
Counting steps, participating in fitness challenges, and packing nutritious meals become much more difficult when we’re under financial stress. It’s time to examine the connection between general well-being and financial well-being.
Significance of Financial Wellness in The Workplace
1. It Enhances The Overall Employee Experience
To answer Why Financial Wellness is Important, it enhances employee experience. According to Alight Solutions, 85% of businesses are developing or growing their financial wellness program to improve the general work experience.
Nearly 25% of an employee’s workweek is made up of their 40-hour work week on average. Improving the whole experience ought to be the primary goal since it may improve an employee’s life in general by giving them more financial stability.
2. One Big Source of Stress is Finance
Employee stress isn’t only related to their jobs; money worries may also be a major cause of stress. In a 2015 PwC poll of American working people, 45% of participants said that managing their money is stressful.
Money may be a continual cause of worry for some people. In fact, according to a 2015 American Psychological Association (APA) study, 22% of people report experiencing acute financial stress, and 72% of individuals report feeling anxious about money at least sometimes.
Health deteriorates when it’s severe. Several respondents cited financial problems as why they considered missing or skipping healthcare appointments.
According to the same APA research, those who live in lower-class homes and experience high levels of financial stress are more prone to turn to harmful coping mechanisms. To relieve tension, consider binge-watching TV for hours, indulging in ice cream, and having too many drinks.
3. Taking Care of Finance Requires Time
Not only can managing money be difficult, but it also takes time. Employees who aren’t in control of their financial situation bring their anxieties to work. Actually, according to a PwC poll, 37% of respondents said they thought about their money for three or more hours per week while at work.
Financial difficulties can cause some workers to skip work, according to a June 2014 SHRM poll. Thirty-seven percent of HR professionals who responded to the study said that workers had missed work due to an unexpected expense.
Furthermore, a 2015 Rand research discovered a negative correlation between productivity and financial worries, taking care of family members, and getting little sleep.
Stress is a distraction; people become less focused and effective at work when they worry about their financial well-being.
4. Workers That Are Stable Financially Are Motivated Workers
One of the Financial Wellness Benefits is it keeps workers motivated. 72% of businesses said that they started or expanded their financial wellness program because they wanted to increase employee engagement.
Additionally, a study by Quantum Workplace and Limeade found that workers are 38% more engaged when they believe their bosses are concerned about their health and well-being.
5. Employees Want Financial Literacy
Employer-sponsored financial wellness programs are necessary, yet the majority of businesses are not doing enough of them. While over 81% of HR professionals claim that workers get retirement planning, most acknowledge that no further financial literacy initiatives, including credit score monitoring or personal finance training, are offered.
What’s more urgent is that 86% of workers believe that companies should provide financial wellness programs, according to a 2015 Harris Poll report. Employers have a chance to help workers achieve greater financial health by offering a platform that satisfies their desire to become more financially informed.
A more financially secure workforce helps businesses and workers because it lowers stress, increases productivity and time spent on work, and offers valuable perks people want.
6. Employers That Support The Financial Well-Being of Their Staff Members Are More Desirable Places To Work
Your organization will appeal more to potential workers if you improve employee engagement and experience. Most employers are aware of this. Indeed, 47 percent of respondents said that they developed or grew financial wellness initiatives in order to set themselves apart as an employer.
Attracting top people may be facilitated by providing a comprehensive package of perks outside the job description. To make your organization more appealing, consider Why Financial Wellness is Important.
7. It Improves Engagement
According to research, 71% of workers demand rises to their quality of life, but only 31% of companies provide them as a cash bonus. Although I support merit-based compensation and the market, companies should be mindful of the cost of living, particularly for lower-paid workers.
Cost-of-living adjustments take inflation-related increases in living expenditures into account. They could reduce tension and enable more concentration at work. Giving these increases to staff results in an average 15% increase in engagement.
Offering financial bonuses encourages loyalty and motivation among staff members by demonstrating that the company values them as unique people. Employee engagement increases by 38% when they perceive that their employers are concerned about their health and well-being.
Putting money into financial wellness improves workers’ general well-being by raising their engagement, productivity, and health. This is one of the Financial Wellness Benefits.
8. The Need for Financial Wellbeing Has Been Increasingly Evident After COVID-19
Nearly 80% of firms raised their communication efforts in 2020 on the retirement and/or financial wellness programs they provide to their employees.
Workers have experienced collective trauma as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. The financial uncertainty brought on by the pandemic has cost lives. Many firms understand how important it is to support and encourage their staff members during these tough financial times.
What is The Sign of Financial Well-Being at Work?
Everybody’s definition of financial well-being at work varies. It concerns how workers feel and handle their money both at work and at home. Employee motivation and productivity may be directly impacted by their physical and emotional health, which is included in financial wellness.
For instance, a worker who worries about money may be more prone to stress and worry, resulting in decreased performance and more absenteeism. Realizing Why Financial Wellness is Important and taking necessary strategies is necessary to keep your employees happy and productive.
This involves more than simply offering the bare minimum in terms of pay, pensions, and benefits to workers; it also entails fostering an atmosphere that helps staff members with budgeting, saving, and investing, among other aspects of financial well-being.
It’s essential to remember that having a stable financial future is just as vital to financial health as having a high income and pay.
FAQs
Q: What is financial wellness?
A: The capacity to pay one’s debts on time and in full, feel safe in one’s financial situation, and take advantage of new possibilities are all components of financial health.
Q: Why is financial wellness an essential perk for employees?
A: Supporting financial wellness may enhance the general health of the workforce and reduce long-term healthcare expenses. Enhanced retention: According to a recent Bank of America survey, 84% of businesses believe that providing financial wellness resources may lower employee churn.
Q: How can you encourage sound financial wellness?
A: Acknowledge obstacles such as excessive spending, debt, gaps in funds, and insufficient understanding. Organize your finances, pay off debt, save, study, make objectives, save emergency savings, prepare for retirement, and raise your credit ratings. Achieving and maintaining financial well-being requires constant work.
