Stress, Money and Millennials: Where’s the Pain Point?

Stress, Money and Millennials: Where’s the Pain Point?

Today is Stress Awareness Day, so it’s no surprise that for many Millennial employees, money (and financial stress)  is still top of mind.

A recent Bank of America report, which analyzed the money habits of over 1,000 Millennials, found that the chief concern for respondents was that they weren’t saving enough for future expenses, like emergency funds and retirement. Worrying about career paths and whether they’d be able to afford to buy a home rounded out the top three stressors.

Additionally, three-quarters of respondents said that their generation overspends compared to other generations. Nearly two-thirds of Millennials also believe that their generation is not good at managing money. This is a trend that’s remained consistent throughout each year of the Better Money Habits Millennial Report, with stress levels of 2014 being on par with those of 2018.

But despite what you — and they — might think, Millennials’ money habits are as good as or better than other generations. The report revealed that a majority of the group are saving, budgeting, have a savings goal and feel financially secure. This age group is “young enough to start developing smarter money habits” according to Haley Ross of Bank of America Better Money Habits’ team, but that doesn’t mean they feel secure in their choices. Many doubt their financial security and the financial security of their peers. Sixty-four percent of Millennials believe that their generation does not manage money well and 75 percent feel their generation overspends in comparison to older generations.

This lack of a feeling of financial security may explain why over the past two years, Millennials were more likely than Gen Xers or Baby Boomers to ask for a raise, and 80 percent of those who asked for a pay increase got one. According to Ross, Millennials are getting their financial houses in order which may contribute to their drive to advocate for themselves at work by asking for a raise.

Job Hopping Your Way Out of Financial Stress

About one in four Millennials consider themselves to be “job-hoppers” and expect to have eight or more jobs throughout their lifetime. This isn’t always by choice; a quarter of them reported that they have been laid off at some point. In the long run, this can hurt their future savings — thirty percent of respondents say they haven’t stayed at a job enough to set up a retirement plan — and it can hurt employers’ bottom line too as they work to combat increased turnover.

Companies looking to increase hiring and retention can take a look at what Millennials feel is missing from their current job: A positive work/life balance. Offering benefits and enforcing a culture that supports a better work/life balance may be the key to Millennial employees hearts. Other perks like financial wellness programs, education savings plans and family leave benefits can help boost retention and attract top talent.

According to Ilyce Glink, CEO of the financial wellness platform Best Money Moves and author of a dozen books about money and real estate, says that while Millennials are pushing through their uncertainty over money, they’re also pushing their employers to be innovative around the issue of financial wellness.

“For a long time, companies assumed they were ‘ticking the financial wellness box’ simply by providing a 401k plan, perhaps even with an incentive like a matching program,” Glink explained. “But Millennial employees’ sophistication around financial wellness is growing and as the unemployment rate is at historic lows, companies are looking to increase benefits in this space to meet their employees’ needs.”

Helping Employees Get Smarter About Money

Helping Employees Get Smarter About Money

Your employees need help!

When asked to grade their financial literacy on a recent Equifax consumer survey 33% of consumers 18-29 gave themselves a ‘C.’  Ninety percent agreed there was a need for more personal finance education.

The results of this survey indicate that your employees lack confidence in their ability to manage their own money. By providing resources employees can utilize to improve their financial know-how you accomplish more than just boosting morale – you improve productivity. And by demonstrating you’re sensitive to the issues they face which improve retention.

Resources that help employees understand financial topics like credit scores, credit cards, debt repayment, budgeting, and student loans can make a big difference to your employees and to your company.

FSA and HSA Use Increases to Meet Employee Financial Wellness Needs. Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA) help employees prepare and pay for healthcare expenses. Here are their benefits and differences.

Rethinking Internal Memos in Social Media Age. Before you hit send on any internal communication consider how the public might react. See the list of what not to do.

Employee Wellness Expansion. In the next 3-4 years 67% of companies plan to expand employee wellness programs to include stress management and financial wellness. See what else is in store.

Self-Funded Health Insurance. Smaller employers are reducing costs, gaining plan flexibility, and keeping employees happy by self-funding health insurance.  See if it’s a viable option for you.

Lowest Unemployment Since Clinton Administration. The April jobs report indicates that unemployment might soon fall below 4%, the lowest it’s been since 2000. Here’s what the experts say.

Legislature Proposed in NYC to Give Employees Right to Disconnect. Most employees have access to their work from their devices and as a result often find themselves doing work from home. A bill proposed in NYC aims to limit communications after work hours to maintain separation between work and home life. Find out more.

Include Managers in Wellness Program Decisions. Employee engagement in company sponsored wellness programs remains low. Research suggests managers are the key to increasing employee engagement. Here’s how.

Is your employee compliance training effective? Harassment and discrimination compliance training is shifting towards an ongoing process that is evaluated and refined so that it becomes an active part of cultivating company culture. Learn more.

Have something to add? Email info@bestmoneymoves.com.