Financial Wellness Think Tank™ · 2026 Research Brief

The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Deskless Workers’ Financial Wellness

How financial stress among frontline employees erodes safety, productivity, and retention

Deskless workers represent 80% of the global workforce, yet most financial wellness programs are built for employees who sit at desks. The gap represents a measurable business risk. This research brief quantifies the compounding cost of unaddressed financial stress across four employer dimensions: turnover, safety incidents, disengagement and absenteeism, and benefits waste. It also examines the structural access barriers that keep deskless workers from engaging with the benefits they have, and offers a practical framework for closing the gap.