Around 60% of UK employees say financial concerns are harming their health, according to a new report.
The findings in the newly released nudge 2025 Global Financial Wellbeing Report show that money worries are impacting the mental, physical, and social wellbeing of workers across the UK.
The report, based on a survey of over 11,500 employees worldwide – including 2,102 from the UK – paints a sobering picture. It not only exposes the widespread health consequences of financial instability but also shines a light on how financial education could be the key to turning things around.
MONEY WORRIES IMPACTING MENTAL HEALTH
The cost-of-living crisis isn’t just hitting wallets, it’s hitting minds. Ongoing financial pressure is driving UK employees into a mental health spiral. The survey shows that:
- 31% report stress related to their financial situation.
- 26% experience anxiety.
- 6% have had suicidal thoughts.
This data reinforces the idea that financial wellbeing is not a standalone metric; it’s deeply woven into the psychological fabric of the workforce.
MONEY CONCERNS IMPACTING
Financial strain is also keeping people up at night, which is impacting both mental and physical hewalth. According to the report:
- 22% of UK employees lose sleep due to financial worries.
- 16% report chronic fatigue or exhaustion.
- 15% suffer from headaches or migraines.
- 9% link their financial stress to high blood pressure.
The body keeps the score, and for thousands of workers, the toll is becoming impossible to ignore.
MONEY WORRIES IMPACTING RELATIONSHIPS
The pressure isn’t just internal. The report reveals that 18% of respondents say money worries are straining their relationships, while 12% report withdrawing socially, further exacerbating the mental health burden.
“Financial stress has a huge impact on people both inside and outside of work. If someone is stressed by their finances, it can cause a lack of focus and decreased productivity,” explained Jonathan Bellamy, Benefits Manager at AstraZeneca. “Ultimately, it could also lead to longer-term mental health issues, so it is important employers provide support for employees to better understand finances and educate them on the financial benefits they have within their total reward packages.”
UK WORSE OFF THAN EUROPE
The UK is feeling the financial pressure more intensely than its European neighbours. While financial stress is a concern across the board, UK employees are significantly more impacted:
- UK: 31%
- France: 23%
- Germany: 25%
- Spain: 25%
- Italy: 22%
“Financial pressure is particularly prominent in the UK compared to other European countries when it comes to mental health issues,” highlighted Tim Perkins, Co-Founder and CEO of nudge. “While other European employees report worrying signs of financial stress, the UK’s significantly higher rate of 31% is concerning. This financial pressure doesn’t just impact balance sheets – it reverberates through every aspect of wellbeing both at work and home. By providing personalised financial education, employers can address this specific challenge and create workplaces where employees can thrive rather than just survive.”
FINANCIAL LITERACY & WELLBEING
Despite the crisis, there is hope, and it lies in education, noted the report. A growing number of UK employees are fighting back. In fact, nearly 80% are actively working to improve their financial literacy. And the payoff is clear:
- Those with strong financial literacy are 37% less likely to experience stress.
- They are 49% less likely to feel anxious.
Financially literate employees are also:
- 7x more likely to rate their mental health as excellent.
- 7x more likely to rate their social health as excellent.
- 6x more likely to rate their physical health as excellent.
“Financial literacy is a powerful way to reduce financial stress during volatile times, although it’s important to note that advice should be coming from experts rather than unregulated platforms,” stressed Perkins. “By equipping employees with expert advice on how to better manage their finances, employers will ease the pressure on employees’ minds, bodies and relationships. Businesses must recognise the importance of offering personalised financial education to create a healthier workforce.”
PRIORITISING FINANCIAL WELLBEING
As the data makes painfully clear, financial stress is not a peripheral issue – it’s a core threat to the UK’s workforce health. The 2025 Global Financial Wellbeing Report is a wake-up call for employers, policymakers, and health professionals alike. In a volatile economic landscape, prioritising financial education isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s a necessity for building a resilient, thriving workforce.
Click here to download the full report.
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