Keep employees switched on to their pensions – and their future

Poor financial resilience can affect health, motivation and productivity at work. But employers are in a unique position to help.

By providing financial education at work, employers can build trust and spark interest, giving employees the tools to take control. Because when employees engage with their money today, they’re more likely to engage with their pension tomorrow.

This article is not personal advice. If you are unsure of a course of action, please ask about advice.

1. Start with the basics

Help employees with budgeting and saving for an emergency fund.

These are the building blocks of financial engagement - and they pull people in. When employees know how budgeting works, they’re more likely to check their pension too.

2. Lean on life stages

Only 43% of those in the sandwich years, aged 35-54, know how their pension is performing. It’s a time of competing priorities and many will be juggling careers, children, and caring responsibilities.

Don’t just talk retirement. Offer financial wellbeing sessions on every stage of life. Topics like saving for a house deposit or investing for children hit home - and build trust. Show employees that having control over their finances now can set them up well for the long term.

3. Use one-to-one access

Data shows that people who sit down with an expert tend to engage more, which helps drive action. Around 15% of people invest outside their pension default fund on their own but that jumps to 38% after a one-to-one session. Encourage one-to-one guidance and spotlight how it helps them take control.

4. Lean on existing collateral

Break down the barriers that employees face when checking their pensions by giving them simple tools. Point them to the platform and walk them through key metrics.

Many benefit providers also offer financial wellbeing so tap into their resources if they have them.

Check out national campaigns such as Pension Wise, National Pension Tracing Day and Talk Money Week. Much of the groundwork is already laid through the creation of regulated content – but it’s still important to do the due diligence before directing employees to the sources.

5. Champion compounding

Use one strong message. The earlier you start, the more your money works for you as it has time to grow.

Offer sessions on investing to help employees understand the power of compounding and empower them to take control of their whole financial future.

This is particularly important for women. The gender pension gap doesn’t happen overnight. It builds over a lifetime due to career breaks, the gender pay gap, and more women working part-time.

As only 36% of women know how their pension is doing compared to 58% of men, understanding your pension and taking early action can help narrow the gap. Supercharging contributions in your 20s and 30s, paired with checking in on how your investments are doing while you have decades ahead, can deliver powerful long-term results.

Important information: Employees should keep in mind that investments can go down in value as well as up, so they could get back less than they invest. They also need to keep in mind that pensions can’t normally be accessed until 55 (57 from 2028) and pension and tax rules can change, and benefits depend on personal circumstances.

*HL Opinium survey, April 2025. 1543 respondents.

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