Morgan Stanley at Work State of the Workplace Financial Benefits Study Highlights Evolving Stances on Financial Wellness and Retirement Benefits

• Employees and HR leaders are more aware of the impact of personal financial wellness on workplace performance

• More than half of employees reported the need to reduce contributions to their long-term savings due to current economic conditions

• Employees most value access to a financial advisor in helping to stay financially fit

Morgan Stanley at Work released today the latest findings from its second annual State of the Workplace Financial Benefits Study, highlighting the economic challenges employees face amid high inflation and evolving views on financial wellness and retirement benefits:

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“Employees are looking to their employers for the resources and support they need to navigate personal financial challenges—challenges that have a real impact on their professional and personal success, both day to day and long-term”

• Employees are scaling back retirement contributions: Because of the economic impacts related to inflation and/or concerns about a recession, 62% of employees report that they’ve needed to reduce contributions to their savings, with nearly a third (31%) reducing contributions to their 401(k) plans and more than a quarter (26%) scaling back on paying off their debts and loans.
  • Gen Z (74%) and Millennials (68%) were more likely to have made these reductions than their Baby Boomer counterparts (37%).
• Employees citing money-related stress as a performance inhibitor increased year over year: Nearly 3 in 4 employees (71%) report that money-related stress negatively affects their work and personal lives, up 7% (from 64%) in 2021.
  • Many are struggling in silence, with nearly half (47%) of employees reporting that they have either never thought to reach out or are unsure if they are allowed to reach out to their employer for assistance with their personal finances.
  • Among age groups, Millennials (77%) would be most likely to say financial stress is negatively impacting their work and personal lives, up from 69% the previous year.
• Employees want to work with an Advisor: When asked what type of retirement planning would be most beneficial to them, employees identified access to a Financial Advisor as their top choice, with 52%. However, HR professionals list goals-based retirement investment planning as employees’ top priority (47%), followed by access to retirement planning tools and calculators (43%), and tied for third, access to a Financial Advisor (40%) and retirement planning workshops (40%).
• Retirement Planning – A Plus for Retention: All HR leaders say that retirement planning assistance from financial professionals is a priority in retaining employees, with 76% citing this support as a top or high priority. Further, 93% of employees also view retirement planning assistance as a priority when choosing where to work.

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“Employees are looking to their employers for the resources and support they need to navigate personal financial challenges—challenges that have a real impact on their professional and personal success, both day to day and long-term,” said Krystal Barker Buissereth, Head of Financial Wellness at Morgan Stanley at Work. “Especially in the face of today’s high inflation and market uncertainty, we are seeing that smart and accessible workplace benefits like Financial Wellness can be a lighthouse for employees to find helpful tools, financial education, and professional guidance.”

“The data makes it clear that employees are struggling to find a balance between long-term savings and immediate needs,” said Anthony Bunnell, Head of Retirement at Morgan Stanley at Work. “One often-overlooked resource that can change the game, especially in today’s environment, is the financial advisor available through your workplace retirement plan—who can help participants reach financial goals.”

Additional details are available in Morgan Stanley at Work’s State of the Workplace Study, available here. As part of a series of findings from Morgan Stanley at Work’s second annual study, the business published its findings on financial benefits and will also publish its findings on equity compensation in the coming weeks.

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