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Stress and anxiety about finances and debt is biggest employer concern for millennials, shows GRiD research

Press release 18 November 2019.

‘Stress and anxiety related to finances and debt’ is the health and wellbeing issue that employers think most affects their Millennial* employees, according to the findings from GRiD’s latest research amongst 500 HR decision makers.**

In fact, the top three health and wellbeing issues that employers believe most affect their millennial workforce, are:

  • Stress and anxiety related to finances & debt (51%)
  • Stress and anxiety related to home life - including managing difficult relationships, caring responsibilities etc (39%)
  • Stress and anxiety related to work - such as pressures of overwork and uncertainty of the future (38%)

Millennials and finances

Millennials entered the workforce at the height of the economic downturn and, therefore, are only too aware of the repercussions for the job market, owing to the difficulties they faced trying to find work. They're laden with the highest student debt levels ever and they're also the generation who've had to live at home with their parents due to property price rises.

Once lambasted for being 'too lazy' and 'too entitled' in the workplace, with their increase in years comes more responsibility. They are no longer the newbies in the workplace and in fact, many are now middle managers with children, mortgages and bills to pay.

Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD, the industry body for the group risk protection sector said: “Employers are absolutely correct to be concerned about Millennials’ stress levels; this group is stressed about a trio of finances, home and work life. However, unless employers review their employee benefits packages accordingly, they run the risk of being like a long-lost aunt who comments 'you've grown' without really acknowledging any other changes.”

GRiD advises employers to be alert to the constantly changing circumstances of each generation and to review their employee benefits package to ensure it is still relevant and appropriate.

Macro and micro support

GRiD believes it is the right and responsible thing for employers to offer their Millennials benefits that support them on a macro financial level such as income protection or critical illness cover, but their challenge may be that younger employees don’t entirely see the immediate need.

One solution is to combine that financial support with other benefits that can be tailored to the individual’s life stage and day-to-day issues. For example, as well as providing a financial pay out, many group risk products contain access to an employee assistance programme which can be used even if a claim is never made. Amongst other benefits, these programmes help employees to manage their own mental health as well as provide support for any issues that cause anxiety or distress on a personal level including debt management, accountancy, lawsuits, consumer disputes, property or neighbour issues.

Moxham concluded: “Group risk protection products (employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness) are relevant for every age group and profile. This is not only because of the headline financial benefits they provide, but wrapped up in the product are often also a huge number of additional  benefits that support the employee on a personal level too – ideal for the workforce with ever-changing needs.”

-       Ends -

*For the purposes of this research, the age range for Millennials (Gen Y) is 24-42

 **Research undertaken by Opinium on behalf of GRiD amongst 500 HR Decision makers between 4-18 March 2019.

For further information please contact:

Sharon Mason 
SMUK Marketing and PR
smason@smuk.org.uk 
Mob: 07747 611773
Land: 01252 843350

Katharine Moxham
Spokesperson for GRiD
Katharine.moxham@grouprisk.org.uk
Mob: 07887 512508

Notes for editors

About GRiD

Group Risk Development (GRiD) is the industry body for the group risk protection sector, promoting the value to UK businesses of providing financial protection for their staff, enhancing their wellbeing and improving employee engagement. Our membership includes insurers, reinsurers and intermediaries who have a collective wealth of experience built over years of operating in the group risk protection market. Under the chairmanship of Steve Bridger (MD Group Protection, Corporate, Aviva UK Insurance) GRiD aims to promote group risk through a collective voice to Government, policymakers, stakeholders and employers.

GRiD works with government departments and regulators involved in legislation and regulation affecting group risk benefits, and with other organisations involved in the benefits and financial protection arenas. GRiD also seeks to enhance the industry's standing by encouraging best practice and by participating in industry-wide initiatives such as the professional qualification in group risk managed jointly with the Chartered Insurance Institute.

 

 

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