Filene study finds link between employee financial stress and performance

MADISON, Wis. -Looking to improve the quality and quantity of employee performance and decrease absenteeism? A Filene Research Institute study, “Financial Stress and Workplace Performance: Developing Employer-Credit Union Partnerships”, suggests that credit unions can add hard dollars to their bottom lines by developing financial wellness programs. According to the report, financial education leads to greater employee awareness of financial control, and therefore fewer financial worries, less stress, better health, and stable personal lives.Employee financial education also results in greater employee awareness and use of the company’s benefit program, and its total compensation package. The result is less absenteeism, fewer accidents, less job turnover, lower benefit costs, and higher profits. In addition, findings indicate that employees who are financially secure are better able to learn, change, and grow with the company. Other studies show that 15% of employees are so stressed about money that it affects their productivity, and that percentage rises to 20-30% for employers whose wages are below average. To overcome the stigma attached to stress and depression, employers and health care professionals need to work to make people comfortable with the idea of seeking help. It is advised to get involved early and prevent and identify these disorders since people who are at risk avoid seeking help until a crisis occurs. Copies of “Financial Stress and Workplace Performance: Developing Employer-Credit Union Partnerships” are available free to Institute members; $100 to non-members. For more information about Filene studies call (608) 231-8550 or visit online at www.filene.org.