Report Reveals Employees’ Debt Concerns

According to the 2022 Workplace Wellness Survey recently published by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research, most employees surveyed were concerned about their household’s financial wellbeing, with their level of debt being most problematic.

A majority also believe that employers have a responsibility to ensure employees’ financial wellness, as well as their physical and emotional wellbeing, but fewer than half think their employers are doing a good job with it.

The Workplace Wellness Survey examined workers’ attitudes toward employment-based benefits, including health insurance and retirement benefits, as well as overall financial wellbeing. The report found that 60% of the employees surveyed were at least moderately concerned about their financial wellbeing, up from 49% in 2021. About half of employees are also concerned about their emotional (50%) and physical (48%) wellbeing.

According to the report, their financial woes revolve overwhelmingly around debt. Eight in 10 employees (80%) described their level of debt as a problem, which has increased from 65% since 2021. Among those with a debt problem, 78% cited their household’s level of credit card debt as the issue. More than half (57%) said health-related debt was a problem, and 51% had an issue with student loans.

However, most of the surveyed workers (66%) felt their employers should play a responsible role in helping them be financially secure. They also thought employers should have a responsibility in making sure employees are mentally and emotionally healthy (77%) and physically well (74%).

Although employees felt financially cared for by employers through employment-based health insurance and retirement savings plans, fewer than half rated their employer’s efforts highly in these areas. Four in 10 employees (44%) were extremely or very satisfied with their benefits package, decreasing from 51% in 2021.

The report also found that employees aren’t necessarily achieving the work-life balance they value and desire. Just 39% described their work-life balance as excellent or very good. Another 36% rated it as good, and 25% rated it as fair or poor.

Despite decreased satisfaction with benefits and work-life balance, 59% of the employees surveyed were still extremely or very satisfied with their current job, which is nearly consistent with findings in 2021 (60%).

Click here to view a condensed version of the report.