Imagine embarking on a road trip with no GPS, no map and no clear destination in mind. You're just driving aimlessly, hoping to stumble upon an ideal spot to sightsee, grab a bite to eat or bunk down for the night. Many employees are finding themselves similarly adrift—not on America’s roadways, but as they struggle to navigate the complex landscape of employee financial wellbeing.
The rocky roads of personal finance are fraught with challenges when there’s no clear plan or support. Fortunately, employers are in an ideal position to help their workers get on the right path to a sound financial footing.
The state of financial wellbeing: stuck in a traffic jam
The 2025 Alight Employee Mindset Study reveals a stagnant trend in employee financial wellness, with just 42% of employees rating themselves highly in 2025, a slight decrease from the 46% who reported good financial health in 2023. This is like being stuck in a traffic jam, eager to reach your destination but unable to gain traction. By generation, Gen Z and Millennials are slightly more optimistic, with 48% and 47%, respectively, rating their financial wellbeing highly, compared to 32% of Gen Xers and 29% of Boomers.
2025 Alight Employee Mindset Study
Why do employees stay, leave or disengage? Read the report to find out.
Roadblocks to financial wellbeing
So, why are employees keeping their foot on the brake when it comes to financial wellbeing? The Mindset study identifies the usual roadblocks:
- Cost: 31% cite it as a major obstacle, like trying to drive a car when you can’t afford maintenance.
- Limited access to resources: 24% struggle to find the right tools and support to keep their financial vehicle running.
- Lack of knowledge: 20% are unsure of what to do, which can easily lead to a series of wrong turns.
Employers can help reduce these roadblocks by offering training videos or programs and financial wellness tools across a variety of topics. Because of the employer’s purchasing power, the cost of these tools is often less than what an employee would pay in the retail market.
The role of employers as financial GPS
Employers have a definite role to play as the GPS that guides employees towards financial wellbeing. The Mindset study shows that 42% of employees want their employer to help improve their finances. This desire is consistent across generations, with Gen Z and Millennials showing slightly higher interest (45% and 42%, respectively) compared to Gen X and Boomers (40% and 35%, respectively).
Employers can offer a financial wellbeing strategy with focused support and resources to help employees address challenges.
Among employees surveyed:
- 44% want help creating or managing a budget for personal expenses.
- 50% desire assistance with managing their debt.
- 50% would like help with establishing an emergency fund.
Employer views paint a different picture. According to Alight’s 2025 Hot Topics in Retirement and Financial Wellbeing report, just a small number of employers feel they should provide tools in financial literacy to their employees.
- 29% think they need to give employees money management tools to help create or manage a budget.
- 24% feel they should give employees assistance with managing their debt.
- 26% believe they should provide a program to help employees with establishing an emergency fund.
The impact on employee engagement and productivity
Financial wellbeing has a direct impact on employee engagement and productivity. In the Mindset study, we asked questions that could help identify if people had high, medium or low financial wellbeing. Employees with high financial wellbeing are more likely to be engaged and productive, like a well-maintained engine:
- 78% report always or often being productive—18 points higher than those with low financial wellbeing.
- 74% say they tell others great things about their employer versus only 44% of people with low financial wellbeing.
- The percentage of people reporting high financial wellbeing who say their employer inspires them to do their best is almost double the percentage of low financial wellness people (79% vs. 40%).
The broader impact on overall wellbeing
Financial wellbeing is not just about money; it's about overall health and happiness. This is borne out in the Mindset study, which reveals that employees with high financial wellbeing also report higher levels of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing:
- 61% rate their physical wellbeing highly.
- 62% rate their mental and emotional wellbeing highly.
- Only 7% say they have high stress, compared to 46% of those reporting low financial wellbeing.
Employers have a unique opportunity to act as the GPS for their employees’ financial journeys. By offering a high-tech, human touch solution composed of the right tools and resources, they can help navigate the often complex and winding roads of financial wellbeing. Just as a reliable GPS guides travelers to their destination, employer support (with the right mix of employee benefits) can help your employees reach their financial goals with confidence and ease, ultimately leading teams to a more secure and prosperous future.
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