REWARD
Creating a culture of openness One of the most powerful roles employers and payroll professionals can play is to create an environment where it’s safe to talk about money – asking folks what they’re saving for is a great first step We create an annual ‘financial wellness calendar’ along with a monthly ideas and resources deck to help teams engage colleagues in conversations around financial health and building great habits. The ‘financial wellness calendar’ for 2026 can be found here: https://ow.ly/MAaL50WRQlH. Managers don’t need to have all the answers. But if they can listen, and signpost support early (see signposting suggestions to the right), problem debts can be tackled before they turn into deeper legal and financial issues. And we can create long lasting meaningful impact by helping employees with payroll savings. Practical next steps for payroll professionals 1. Audit your current benefits. Are you offering real tools for savings and debt support? Hot tip: free services (like StepChange, MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice), tools and resources are often the best. 2. Talk to your payroll provider about enabling payroll-linked savings. 3. Promote financial wellbeing regularly, not just during Money Week or awareness months. 4. Make it inclusive. Design benefits which reach lower-income or digitally excluded staff. 5. Partner with local credit unions
In summary Financial vulnerability is no longer the exception, it’s the new normal for millions of UK workers. But with smart, empathetic payroll design and a culture which encourages open conversations, employers can make a measurable difference. By helping employees move from debt to resilience, you’re not just supporting financial wellbeing – you’re strengthening your workforce and future-proofing your organisation. n Signposting: where to get help If you or your employees are facing money worries, there are free, confidential services that can help: StepChange debt charity https://ow.ly/MZ8c50WVK7e | 0800 138 1111 Free, impartial and confidential debt advice, budgeting help and repayment plans. MoneyHelper (Government-backed) https://ow.ly/Sne250WVKbp Tools, guides and support for savings, debt and pensions.
small emergency fund (£500 to £1,000) before tackling debt. This aligns closely with the UK Government’s financial inclusion and resilience strategy promoted by organisations like Nest Insight and StepChange. Payroll saving makes this possible due to the following: ‘Set and forget’ route to financial wellness Automatic deductions make saving effortlessly consistent and sustainable. Builds emergency funds quickly Even £10 / week adds up to over £550 a year (including interest) - a rainy day buffer which makes folks much less likely to fall into problem debt. Behavioural win Saving before spending turns intention into habit, empowering employees to achieve their financial goals and avoid / get out of the panic-based mindset associated with low financial resilience. Financial wellness = mental wellness Employees are happier and manage stress better when they have a financial cushion. Research from Nest shows that employees with payroll savings are 24% more likely to have £1,000+ in savings, making them significantly more resilient to income shocks. Having an emergency fund gives us peace of mind by reducing financial stress as well as helping us to reach our goals faster, whether it’s for a holiday, car repairs or clearing debt, we build money confidence as balances grow, fostering long-term financial wellbeing.
Citizens Advice https://ow.ly/8Brr50WVK9E Free, impartial advice on financial and legal problems.
Benefits checker https://ow.ly/Xky150WVKaH
Budgeting tools https://ow.ly/Sne250WVKbp
or fintech platforms like Sync to get started with payroll savings quickly and affordably.
Savings calculator https://ow.ly/aj0Z50WVKcK.
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 114 | October 2025
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