"Financial wellbeing is no longer viewed as simply a 'nice-to-have' employee benefit."
- Jonathan Watts-Lay - WEALTH at work
New research by the Reward & Employee Benefits Association (REBA), conducted in partnership with WEALTH at work, has revealed that financial wellbeing is now a strategic priority for employers.
Financial Wellbeing Research 2026 found that, among the responses from 186 employers representing 1.2 million UK employees, almost every employer identified a clear connection between financial wellbeing and employee wellbeing outcomes.
The research found that 99% of employers believe financial wellbeing is important for employees' mental health, while the same proportion said it plays an important role in engagement and motivation. 96% recognised financial wellbeing as an important contributor to workforce health.
In terms of business benefits, 91% of employers see financial wellbeing as important for improving productivity and performance, while the same proportion believe it supports workforce planning and organisational sustainability.
In addition, 93% view financial wellbeing as important for retaining talent and 94% for attracting talent, while a further 87% said financial wellbeing is an important tool for reducing people-related risks.
These findings follow the latest research by Mintel, which found that 32% of adults rate their financial wellbeing as poor, with financial wellbeing considered the weakest area of overall wellbeing.
READ MORE: Eleos Life launches new IP policy that pays out on redundancy
"The findings reflect a growing recognition among employers that financial concerns can have a significant impact on employees' lives," Jonathan Watts-Lay, director at WEALTH at work, said. "When employees feel more financially secure, they are better able to focus on their work and make informed decisions about their future.
"This research shows that organisations are increasingly embedding financial wellbeing into broader wellbeing and people strategies, rather than treating it as a standalone initiative. Financial wellbeing is no longer viewed as simply a 'nice-to-have' employee benefit.
"Instead, it is becoming a core element of employee wellbeing strategies, supporting workforce wellbeing, engagement, retention and productivity.
"Based on our experience, the most effective programmes are those that take a strategic, long-term approach, providing employees with the financial education, guidance and support they need at every stage of their lives. By doing so, employers can help build financial resilience while supporting better outcomes for both employees and their organisation."
Debi O’Donovan, co-founder and director of REBA, added: "Financial wellbeing in the workplace is steadily shifting from its largely peripheral position in most HR and corporate strategies, to being one of the core levers for people risk management, workforce planning and business sustainability.
"Too long categorised as either a tick-box compliance requirement, a secondary corporate social responsibility initiative or a suite of underutilised employee perks, REBA’s Financial Wellbeing Research 2026, in association with WEALTH at work, found that employers are revisiting financial wellbeing programmes to meet challenges raised by cost-of-living pressures, employees not able to retire on adequate pensions and, most notably, the huge impact that financial worries have on mental wellbeing."
