'National ramifications' | Financial stress draining productivity as 4 in 5 workers take time off work due to money concerns

Financial stress has become a persistent and visible problem in UK workplaces, with new research revealing that concerns about money are directly undermining employee performance, productivity and wellbeing.

According to findings from Stream, a workplace finance provider, nearly two thirds of UK employees (64%) say they worry about their rent or mortgage payments on a monthly basis, with two in five (17%) worrying about this every single day. The impact is felt particularly strongly among younger workers: 20% of those under 35 worry daily about their basic living costs.

The knock-on effects on productivity and attendance in the workplace are significant. In the past year alone, a staggering 83% of UK workers say they have taken at least 1 day off work due to stress, anxiety or illness linked to personal finance concerns. 61% of UK workers report taking four or more days off work as a result of financial stress, with more than one in ten (12%) taking between 11 and 20 days off.

When at work, this stress is persistent. Three in five workers (59%) say financial stress impacts their energy and enthusiasm for their job, while employees in the UK spend 2.24 hours each month handling their personal finances during work hours.