The importance of financial wellbeing in the workplace

Financially stressed employees in Australia lose on average 6.9 hours of productive work per week and are absent four days per year due to stress-related illness, according to AMP’s latest Financial Wellness report.

Consequently, assisting employees to become financially secure means they have fewer distractions and are more productive, while employers reap the benefits of a more engaged workforce.

Property investment platform Ironfish recently launched their Financial Wellbeing Program to help both their staff and customers work towards financial security and change the way they think about wealth and money matters.

“A variety of workplace studies conducted over the last decade consistently emphasise the strong case for employers to address the financial wellbeing of their staff,” said Ironfish CEO & Founder, Joseph Chou.

“Poor financial wellbeing of employees costs an organisation an estimated $33 billion[i] a year – and from an employee’s perspective, one recent study found that financial wellbeing topped the list of factors staff wished their employers cared more about[ii].”

“We see property investment as just the beginning of our service offering. Our over-arching aim is to inspire people to take ownership of their financial future and reach their full potential – both in terms of financial goals as well as personal and professional development.

“We developed our Financial Wellbeing Program to help other organisations provide the tools their employees need to take charge of their finances and perform at their best.”

In Australia, only 8.5% of the population invest in property. At Ironfish, the vast majority (86%) of employees across their nine branches in Australia are property investors themselves, despite being different ages and at different stages of their career.

One such employee is Joshua Vuong, an Executive Assistant at Ironfish, who is a 24-year-old ‘rent-vestor’ with one investment property.

Vuong is a big believer that age or income doesn’t need to be a barrier to getting a foot on the property ladder.

 “I knew it was possible – I saw it as a savings race: I knew I was going to invest in my first property within eight months of joining Ironfish,” said Vuong.

Moreover, one of Ironfish’s customers is Francene Keane, HR Manager at Bay Audio Group.

Keane has two investment properties purchased through Ironfish and believes that investing smartly means she can grow her assets, create opportunities and “work because she loves it.”

Keane’s tips for budding investors include:

• The reality is that a $10k, $20k or even $50k pay rise won’t change your life – after taxes come out, you may not even notice it.
• It’s only by investing smartly that we have the opportunity to make better lives for ourselves.
• Start early and don’t be afraid to start small. I have 1-bedroom apartments – eventually I hope to purchase something bigger as well.
• If you’re trying to get into your first home, it may be worth considering investing somewhere you can afford first to get into the market.
• Be cautious about making an emotional decision – property investment is really just financial transaction.

To learn more about Ironfish’s Financial Wellbeing Program, click here.