Why Financial Literacy Should Be on Every Employer's Mind

Top benefits of workplace financial literacy programs

Holly Morphew //March 18, 2018//

Why Financial Literacy Should Be on Every Employer's Mind

Top benefits of workplace financial literacy programs

Holly Morphew //March 18, 2018//

Study after study shows how little Americans understand their finances. Even if they know details, like how interest rates work, many people don’t actually understand what they should do with their money and how their present financial behavior affects their future.

As a result, people are increasingly deepening their debt, making it impossible to catch up or build savings. Financial illiteracy, or failure to make responsible financial decisions, will likely cause other serious problems, such as anxiety and depression from frequently worrying about money, savings, and eventual retirement.

In fact, even in a relatively strong economy, a majority of Americans say they lose sleep over financial concerns. A CreditCard.com survey conducted in the midst of the relatively strong 2017 economy found that 65 percent of those polled said they lie awake at night fretting over money worries. That was only a slight improvement over the 69 percent of Americans who said the same thing in 2009, amid the Great Recession.

As an employer, imagine how that anxiety impacts your workplace.

It is easy to see how the overwhelming stress might affect a person’s attitude and overall performance in the workplace. Financial illiteracy and the resulting anxiety not only impacts morale and productivity, but could impact retention, as financially strapped employees are easily swayed to leave for even the slightest increase in salary.

As more and more people struggle with their finances, employers can and should promote financial literacy programs throughout their company. Employers have the unique ability to improve the mental health and overall lives of their employees by strengthening their basic financial literacy and comprehension. A financial literacy program not only provides better debt and retirement savings outcomes, but can also increase employee productivity, morale, engagement and loyalty.

Here is a deeper look into some of the many positive impacts of financial literacy programs:

INDIVIDUAL + ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Financial wellness can have a positive impact on individual and economic levels. By implementing financial programs, companies can singlehandedly boost the knowledge of their employees and help strengthen the U.S. national economy. While financial literacy can’t combat every problem – such as unemployment rates or the insurmountable cost of higher education – it can help people become savvier with their money. This will allow people to better navigate their financial condition, plan for the future and handle sudden curveballs. Financial literacy has severe impacts on economic health. Increased knowledge will lead to a stronger, more competitive economy. While individually, financial education can help people make better investments, accumulate more wealth, and have a higher inclination to plan for retirement.

ELEVATED COMPANY CULTURE

Company culture” has become the corporate world’s new buzzword, as more and more employers realize the value of creating a great work environment for their employees. One easy and relatively low-cost way to accomplish this is by offering financial literacy programs. The workplace is one of the most effective places to administer financial literacy training, because most people receive their primary income at their workplace and are encouraged to utilize company retirement programs. By providing workplace financial education, employers can help their employees develop skills to manage their paychecks and save for retirement. This will elevate the company’s culture because employees will feel as though their employer is on their side and cares about their financial future. 

INCREASED EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY + SATISFACTION

The benefits of workplace financial education also reach the company as a whole. Employees who are less burdened by financial problems are more productive, innovative, collaborative and engaged. More and more research points to the positive relationship between financial wellness, worker satisfaction and productivity. For example, Caroline Cakebread, a personal finance writer, cites research by Joo Kim, writer of “Financial Stress, Pay Satisfaction, and Workplace Performance,” in her article on workplace financial wellness. Kim found that employees with more financial distress are absent from the workplace more often, display less commitment to their organizations, and are less satisfied with their pay, regardless of the amount of money they make.

The statistics alone speak to the need for financial literacy training. Seven out of 10 American workers say financial problems are their most common stressor. And 39 percent admit they spend at least three hours a week preoccupied or distracted by their financial issues while at work.

Companies that implement an effective financial wellness program will experience a significant return on investment through the dramatic reduction of employee sick days, health-care costs, worker’s compensation and disability management claims. Furthermore, their employees will work harder and perform at a higher level if they are not distracted by their personal financial issues.

Workplace financial literacy programs are becoming the new norm, as employers recognize these benefits and the role they can play in their employees’ financial health. More than 40 percent of companies say they already have some type of financial wellness strategy in place or plan to introduce one.

As employers search for a financial literacy program, they should take into account that not everyone has the same issues and needs. What works for one organization might not work for another. Try conducting an employee survey to gain a sense of what would be the most beneficial for the most people. For instance, my financial wellness programs are customized and structured around the specific company I’m working with and the topics its employees want to cover.

With financial literacy programs, companies have the power to raise their bottom line by increasing employee productivity and prevent their employees from making poor financial decisions. There are simply too many benefits to ignore.


Holly Morphew is a Denver-based, award winning financial coach, entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Financial Impact. As a Certified Financial Health Counselor, Student Loan Counselor, and Accredited Financial Counselor ®, Holly works with companies and individuals with the core belief that anyone, regardless of where they begin, can achieve financial freedom and peace of mind.