Financial Wellness and the Workplace

Employers can have a positive impact on the financial wellness of employees by offering or connecting employees to suitable money management resources. A recent survey of HR managers showed that 84% of employees are concerned about finances, which can negatively impact their job performance. A 2009 report published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas cites several direct costs of employee financial problems including absenteeism, reduced productivity, wage garnishment and even theft. These are some of the topics that we will explore in this forum.

Financial concerns and needs differ based on age, income, and priorities. While baby boomers may be focused on saving for retirement and millenials may be concerned about paying down debt, low wage workers are most preoccupied with basic financial survival. For example, how do they create a bridge between paydays that does not rely on bouncing checks, running up credit cards or taking out costly payday loans? And how can low-wage workers save to create a financial cushion or safety net? These are some of the topics that we will explore in this forum.

The target audience for this event is large and small employers from the private, public and nonprofit sectors who are interested in learning about programs and resources that promote financial wellness and stability, primarily for low-wage workers.