The cost of financial stress
How much is employee financial stress quietly, but persistently, draining from your organisation?
Your organisation
Number of employees
Full-time equivalent headcount
Median annual salary
$
NZD, before tax
Your estimate
Conservative annual cost
—
Based on higher estimates from the same research, this could be up to —.
That's the equivalent of — — salaries you're paying without any ROI.
Lost productivity cost
—
Employees physically at work but mentally elsewhere — worrying about bills, balances, and making ends meet.
Assumptions
Conservative
High estimate
Employees experiencing financial stress
Financial Services Council NZ (2025)
%
%
Hours lost per month per stressed employee
Mercer Global Financial Wellness Study (2025)
hrs
—
Retention cost
—
Employees who can't make ends meet chase a bigger paycheck.
Assumptions
Employees considering leaving due to financial stress
EMA/nib Workplace Wellbeing Survey NZ (2024)
%
Of those — departure rate within 12 months
Gallup State of the Global Workplace (2024–2026)
%
Conservative
High estimate
Replacement cost as % of annual salary
Gallup (2024–2026). Published range 50–200%; bounds use lower-mid and upper-mid.
%
%
—
Absenteeism cost
—
Creditor calls, poorer physical health, and stress-related illness pulling people out of work entirely.
Assumptions
Employees taking time off due to financial stress
Aegon/Centre for Economics and Business Research (2024)
%
Average days lost per year per affected employee
Aegon/Centre for Economics and Business Research (2024)
days
—
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This tool provides illustrative estimates using simplified assumptions based on published NZ and global research. Actual results may vary by industry, workforce, and location. This is not financial, legal, or HR advice. © Crayon Limited 2026. All rights reserved.