Data report: Financial stress is driving talent out the door

You probably know your team is feeling some money stress. Most leaders do.

Maybe someone’s gone quiet, or a usually sharp performer seems a bit off.

But what we’ve found, after surveying over 100 South African employees across different roles, industries and income levels, is that the problem is much bigger and way more common than most realise.

Most of your team won’t bring it up in a 1:1.

No one wants to admit they’re lying awake at night worrying about bills or wondering how they’ll make it to payday.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. It is.

And it’s quietly draining their energy, focus, and long-term drive.

So how bad is it?

Nearly 80% say they regularly think about money when trying to relax or sleep
4 in 5 even report physical symptoms linked to financial stress like fatigue, anxiety, burnout and trouble focusing
48% have either taken on a side hustle or are seriously considering it
And 67% say financial stress affects the decisions they make about their job (like whether they stay put or leave)

This silent stress is shaping how your team shows up at work. If your top performers are feeling that constant, low-level pressure, there’s a good chance they’re making daily trade-offs just to cope, like taking on extra work or scrolling job boards for new opportunities during work hours.

So what can you do to support (and keep!) them?

We built the Financial Stress Report to help you get a clearer picture of what your team is really going through. Inside, you’ll find:

Fresh, real data from 110+ South African employees across industries, roles and income levels
The scale of the issue: how widespread financial stress really is (and where it hides)
Workplace impact insights: How money stress affects focus, energy, and retention
Behavioural patterns you might be missing: Why even “okay‑on‑paper” employees feel behind or stuck
Hidden costs to your company: Presenteeism, quiet attrition, and decision fatigue in hard numbers
Practical next steps: how to start assessing and addressing stress in your own team
Practical steps you can take to start making a difference

The report shows the scale of the problem. The Financial Stress Survey Tool helps you see it in your own team: Fast, anonymously, and with clear next steps.

For HR leaders and executives, this is a retention‑risk radar:

✅ Spot hidden issues early – see where financial stress is building before it shows up in resignations or burnout

✅ Get anonymous, honest input – people share more when they don’t have to put their name to it

✅ See patterns, not guesses – a team‑level summary highlights hotspots and behavioural signals

✅ Act with confidence – use the data to shape support initiatives, benefits, or policy changes that actually matter.

Get it here.

Build a culture where people can stay and thrive

Uncovering the problem is only the first step. Lasting change happens when support becomes part of how you lead, not an ad‑hoc response.

That’s what the Financial Freedom Programme is designed for: It gives your team practical guidance, tools and check‑ins that help them make progress on their own finances.

Over time, that translates into:

Steadier focus and energy in day‑to‑day work
Stronger loyalty from people who feel genuinely backed by their employer
A culture where top performers see a future and want to build it with you

👉 See how the programme works here.