Morgan Stanley at Work Study

Morgan Stanley at Work today issued new data from its fifth annual State of the Workplace Financial Benefits Study.

Amid heightened concerns around inflation and the economy—including fears of a possible recession—the data reveals that companies and employees alike are feeling increased pressure. As financial stress rises, this research underscores the strategic importance of workplace financial benefits both as a perceived safe port in the storm and as a key support for financial outcomes for employees and strategic employment priorities for organizations.

Key findings include:

• Financial stress rises and employers are taking notice: Two thirds (66%) of employees say financial stress is negatively affecting their work and personal life, up 4 percentage points since 2024. And 83% of HR executives are worried their employees' personal financial issues are affecting productivity, up 5 percentage points.
• Employees are asking for more help: Over eight in 10 employees (84%) believe their employers should more actively assist them with their financial issues, up 3 percentage points since 2024, and strongest among Gen Z (95%, vs. Millennials: 87%, Gen X: 80% and Baby Boomers: 66%).
• Benefits like financial planning help move the needle for employees: 81% of employees feel they must accelerate their financial planning efforts to make up for lost time, while 67% of HR executives agree that help with financial planning is essential to help employees meet their personal financial goals. Almost all employees (90%) believe workplace financial benefits are essential to reach their personal financial goals—and they especially value help with retirement preparation, financial planning and maximizing equity compensation.

“We stand at a unique inflection point, as significant shifts in the wider economy create a ripple effect in HR and employee attitudes around their approach to workplace financial benefits,” said Scott Whatley, Head of Morgan Stanley at Work. “As we navigate a volatile economic landscape and fluctuating employee expectations, our latest study underscores the power of financial benefits packages to align business goals with employee needs—ultimately enhancing overall workplace satisfaction, productivity and stability.”