Article

Financial education and wellbeing

Our financial wellbeing web page supports you to develop a robust approach to support your staff with financial wellbeing in the workplace.
Health and Wellbeing

18 April 2023

A quarter of people in the UK are suffering with money problems so substantial that it is affecting their ability to do their job, according to a new survey carried out by CIPD and Close Brothers Asset Management of more than 1,800 UK employees. The number reporting problems rises to a nearly a third (31 per cent) among 18-24 year olds, and those living in London (32 per cent). 

Financial wellbeing is a shared responsibility between the employer and employee.

Healthy financial wellbeing can be defined as:

'how much your financial situation and money choices provide you with security and freedom of choice.'

Financial wellbeing is now more important than ever. As the cost-of-living crisis continues, it is having a detrimental impact for some of our NHS staff. This has led to NHS organisations reviewing their current employment packages to support their staff's financial wellbeing, as ensuring that a comprehensive employment package is offered to staff will contribute to retaining valuable talent and help make you an attractive employer for new recruits.

    Advice and recommendations for employers

    • One common misconception around financial wellbeing is that it isn’t the employer’s responsibility, it’s down to the individual. However, the reality is that financial wellbeing is a shared responsibility between the employer and employee.
    • To support employers, we have created an area on our website called the cost of living and good employment, which brings together important resources, examples of good practice and practical examples of what organisations in the NHS are doing now. 
    • Our developing a financial wellbeing strategy guide supports you to establish the foundations you need to develop a robust approach to support your staff with financial wellbeing in the workplace. It includes a four-step approach which means you can start your journey at whichever point is relevant to your organisation.

    Emerging practice and case studies

    • South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System has created a financial wellbeing web page with supporting resources on its workforce wellbeing website. The organisation also held a very successful financial wellbeing programme, a series of webinars on different topics and they are planning to host another financial wellbeing programme in the summer. The ICS has been in touch with an organisation called Infinity Connect, to run practical and engaging webinars within their programme.

    • Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust provides free and easy access to impartial information and confidential advice, information, and guidance across a range of matters, such as access to welfare benefits, housing issues and money management via its ‘Helping Hands’ service. This is delivered by Citizens Advice and coordinated by the trust chaplaincy team. The trust is also currently delivering webinars on help with energy worries.

    • Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has worked with Grant Thornton to create a guide to support staff with claiming tax relief on job-related expenses. The guide includes information on who can claim, how to claim, and examples of possible claims. View the guide. (PDF)

     Further tools and resources