With financial stress on the rise and affordable advice out of reach for many Australians, offering financial wellbeing workshops is one of the most impactful ways organisations can support their people. Whether you're a large corporation or a growing business, providing financial literacy and money education for employees goes beyond just paying a salary—it demonstrates genuine care for your workforce’s long-term wellbeing.

More companies are investing in workplace financial wellbeing programs to help staff make confident money decisions, improve their financial outcomes, and reduce stress at home and work.

Employers are recognising that their people are experiencing economic fatigue—the cumulative stress from years of rising inflation, high living costs, and increasing mortgage interest rates. Research now shows that financial pressure is significantly impacting overall employee wellbeing.

The Gallagher Workforce Wellbeing Index 2024 reportidentified financial wellbeing as the number one area of supportemployees are seeking.

As workforces become more diverse and employee expectations rise,there's an opportunity for employers to offer meaningful support and create asense of safety in this area.

What is financial wellbeing?

Financial wellbeing is about achieving balance—managing day-to-day money matters, maintaining a comfortable lifestyle, and planning for a secure future. Just as importantly, it’s about understanding your relationship with money, including how you think, feel, and behave around it.

I define financial wellbeing through three key pillars:

1. Financial Resilience
   The ability to meet current financial obligations—like paying bills and debts—while maintaining a financial safety net through emergency savings and insurance. It also involves having the literacy and tools to navigate unexpected financial challenges.
2. Lifestyle Enjoyment
   Feeling financially calm and confident while covering your needs and enjoying discretionary spending. This includes aligning your spending with your values, being satisfied with your financial choices, and working toward meaningful goals within a stable living environment.
3. Building for Tomorrow
   Consistently saving and investing for the future, with a focus on long-term financial security and an optimistic outlook. This reflects the confidence that you're on track to meet important milestones—such as retirement.

Together, these three pillars create a holistic framework for financial wellbeing. Overlaying this is emotional financial wellness—our mindset, emotions, and behavioural patterns around money. It includes confidence, emotional regulation, and the capacity to make sound financial decisions without being overwhelmed or avoidant.

Designing an Effective Financial Wellbeing Initiative

If you’re considering implementing a workplace financial wellbeing program, here are a few things to consider:

- Listen to Your People
Run an anonymous employee survey to understand their financial concerns, knowledge gaps, and the support they want.

- Leverage What You Already Offer
Promote existing benefits—such as insurance, super contributions, or EAPs—which are often underused due to lack of awareness.

- Cultivate a Safe and Inclusive Culture
Normalise conversations about money by incorporating financial wellbeing into your regular internal communications. A supportive and informative environment reduces stigma and money and can increase engagement.

- Educate and Empower
Offer practical and engaging learning opportunities—workshops, webinars, and resources—on topics like budgeting, debt management, investing, superannuation, good money habits and financial goal setting.

- Clarify Support Pathways
Explain the different kinds of help available, including financial counselling (often available via EAPs), financial coaching, and financial planner advice.

- Work with an Expert
Partner with a qualified financial educator who has no affiliations with financial products. This ensures the content is unbiased, practical, and focused on your employees’ best interests. Find someone who delivers engaging and actionable content, practical tools and strategies that employees can apply to their personal finances.

Partnering with a qualified and experienced Financial Wellbeing expert ensures your program delivers measurable and lasting impact.

By collaborating with an experienced financial educator and coach, you can design a program tailored to the unique needs of your workforce—whether you're a small business or a large corporation. From navigating cost of living pressures and managing debt, to planning for homeownership, investing or retirement, you want relevant, engaging, and actionable content.

Financial wellbeing events for staff can empower your people with the skills and mindset to make better financial decisions, while supporting the organisation's psychological health and safety requirements.

Interested to learn more, head to www.kareneley.com.au and download my E-book:5 Steps to Integrating Financial Wellbeing into Workplaces.

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