Nearly three quarters of companies (73 percent) are concerned about the financial wellbeing of parents in their workforce as high childcare costs and economic uncertainty create conditions for increasing financial stress.
The research, conducted with 236 companies by financial wellbeing provider Wealth at Work and REBA, was published to coincide with national parent mental health day (30 January 2025).
Survey results also show that 80 percent of employees are concerned about retirement as the rise in the cost of living could hit their savings.
However, the provider said it was encouraging that more than 70 percent of employers said that the mental wellbeing of their workforce was a key driver behind them offering financial wellbeing.
Jonathan Watts-Lay, founder and director at Wealth at Work, said: “The statistic that those faced with persistent financial difficulties are 5.5 times more likely to experience a mental health problem, further emphasises the importance of this issue, particularly among working parents who are already navigating the pressures of family life.
“Poor parental mental health has tangible consequences for businesses, with stress and anxiety potentially leading to decreased productivity, reduced focus, and ultimately lower output. Supporting employee wellbeing fosters a positive work environment, boosts engagement, and ultimately improves business performance and profitability.
“On national parent mental health day, it is very encouraging to see growing levels of recognition amongst UK employers about the importance of supporting the financial and mental wellbeing of working parents. Helping employees to understand the key financial issues that relate to them is an effective way of helping to overcome these risks. Empowering parents with financial knowledge and resources not only reduces stress and improves mental health, but also cultivates a more engaged, productive, and resilient workforce.”
