Investigating the Impact of Financial Stress on Employees' Mental Wellbeing and Workplace Productivity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64060/IJPSSDV2i34Keywords:
Financial stress, Mental wellbeing, Workplace productivity, Coping strategies, Employee wellbeingAbstract
Financial strain is a common worry for working adults, with rising inflation, rising living costs, and lack of wage increases driving this concern, but the personal and work impacts of financial strain are not well understood from the workers' point of view. The current research examined the ways in which employees are financially stressed, the impact of financial stress on mental health and working productivity, and the coping mechanisms employees use. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, following the reflexive approach of Braun and Clarke (2006). Themes that emerged were the emotional burden of financial stress, spillover into work performance, strained relationships at home and at work, survival mode coping, and seeking organizational understanding. The results were analysed using the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping and Conservation of Resources theory and indicated that financial stress creates a downward spiral of resources lost, impacting both wellbeing and performance. The study suggests that a workplace concern should be made aware of by organizations, and structured financial and psychological support should be given to the employees who are facing financial stress.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Umar Ali (Author)
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