Study Reveals Critical Gap in Organizational Understanding of Employee Financial Well-being

A new study from the HR Research Institute has uncovered a critical gap in organizational understanding of employees' financial well-being. Only 14% of respondents report having a deep understanding of the financial health of their workforce, highlighting that many organizations still have a long way to go in recognizing and addressing their employees' financial needs. In comparison, about half (51%) say they understand it "somewhat," based only on sporadic data. This leaves 36% with little to no understanding at all.

The HR.com report, HR.com's State of Financial Wellness 2025, examines employee financial stressors and how businesses can foster a healthier, more motivated workforce, highlighting the growing need for financial wellness programs. A key finding reveals that debt has surpassed inflation as the number one financial stressor, affecting 68% of employees. This shift underscores the growing need for organizations to provide support in managing employees' financial burdens.

Despite the clear need, there is a lack of financial wellness programs. Only 39% of organizations have or are considering implementing an employee financial wellness program aside from retirement programs. The barriers to adoption include budget constraints or lack of funds (48%), more pressing priorities (36%), and insufficient buy-in from senior management (34%).

Further analysis highlights the fact that employee demand for support exists. Respondents overwhelmingly indicated that employees would benefit from financial wellness initiatives, with specific areas of interest being budgeting support (56%), debt management resources (53%), personalized financial advice (47%), and retirement planning assistance (47%). AI-powered financial tools are also gaining traction, with employees expressing the most interest in AI-driven budgeting (56%), debt management (53%), and personalized financial advice (47%).

"Employee financial stress isn't just personal—it's a business issue," said Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com. "Investing in financial wellness support initiatives will boost productivity, engagement, and retention." The recording of the research webcast presentation, Money Matters: Enhancing Employee Financial Wellness for an Engaged Workforce, is available for viewing 24/7 on demand.