With almost one in two UK adults expecting their financial situation to worsen this year, new research from global payroll provider, CloudPay, has revealed that less than half of employees are offered financial wellbeing support by their employer.

Its survey, commissioned to mark National Financial Awareness Day (tomorrow, 14 August 2025), showed only 48% currently receive financial wellbeing support from employers.

“Employees are facing tough economic conditions, now is the time for employers to take action,” said Borja Perez, Product Management VP at CloudPay.

New tech allows staff to take control of their finances

CloudPay is calling for businesses to equip employees with the skills to manage their finances, as well as leveraging new technology that gives staff greater control of their earnings.

“The transformation in payroll means businesses have more tools to support their workforce,” Perez added. “That includes access to financial awareness guides and more flexibility around their paydays.”

He added businesses should consider solutions, including ‘pay-on-demand’ in order to support workforce wellbeing, improve employee experiences and bolster staff morale.

Access to earned wages proves top benefit for retail staff

One of the biggest financial stresses for hourly retail workers is managing cash flow fluctuations, according to research in Legion Technologies’ 2025 State of the UK Hourly Workforce report.

Its original research of over 1,000 UK retail and hospitality workers showed that almost a third (30%) rank Earned Wage Access (EWA) as a top benefit that would improve their employee experience, rising to 40% of Gen Z staff.

EWA allows employees to access wages as they are earned – rather than waiting for payday – helping to reduce financial insecurity and improve job satisfaction. However, despite employees wanting EWA as a benefit, just 9% of employers currently offer it.

“Employers who fail to act risk facing ongoing workforce instability,” said Eoin Houlihan, VP of Europe at Legion Technologies.

“The demand for better working conditions, increased flexibility, and financial wellness benefits is growing. Retailers that continue to rely on manual processes and outdated workforce management methods will struggle to attract and retain top talent,” Houlihan added.