72% of employees feel stressed about their finances

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of employees feel stressed about their finances, according to research by Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth.

Its research also found that 39% do not feel prepared for an unexpected financial emergency, and a quarter (27%) describe their financial situation as struggling or in crisis.

The cost-of-living crisis is the factor cited as having the most impact on finances, as reported by 56% of respondents. Paying off debt (25%) and saving for retirement (25%) were the next biggest concerns for staff.

According to Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth, these findings paint a worrying picture about the stress levels of employees.

Julie Hammerton, managing partner at Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth, said: “Our research shows that low levels of financial resilience, and limited safety nets, are leading to high levels of financial stress.

“This will be having an impact on how employees work, engage and function. These should be seen as warning signs; a workforce that’s living this close to the financial edge is more vulnerable to stress, disengagement and absence.

“These findings clearly align with the recent [Financial Conduct Authority’s] Financial lives survey [published in July 2025], which found that 24% of the adult population had low financial resilience. Together, this paints a worrying picture regarding the huge impact financial stress is having on the UK’s workforce.”