Financial stress affects 72% of workers; 81% of those aged 40+ lack retirement plans

Financial stress is taking a growing toll on workplace productivity in Bangladesh, with 72% of employees saying personal financial worries affect their performance, up from 56% in 2025, while 81% of workers aged 40 and above have no retirement plan.

Rising living costs, medical expenses and concerns over future financial security are adding to employees’ financial pressures, according to MetLife Bangladesh’s Employee Benefits Trend Study 2026.

The study is based on responses from 709 participants, including 583 full-time employees aged 21 and above and 126 employer decision-makers.

Financial stress hits productivity

The study found that the share of employees reporting a negative impact of financial stress on their productivity rose by 16 percentage points in a year, from 56% in 2025 to 72% in 2026.

Employees identified several sources of financial concern, including protecting their families against illness, accidents or premature death, meeting medical expenses, maintaining household income, funding children’s education and coping with rising living costs.

The findings also indicate growing expectations of employer support. Some 81% of employees believe employers have a responsibility to support their financial wellbeing, up from 69% in 2025.

Meanwhile, 86% said employers should help employees save for retirement, compared with 67% a year earlier. Around 72% also expect support from their employers when they face significant unexpected financial stress or expenses.

Retirement planning gap widens

The lack of retirement planning is particularly pronounced among employees aged 40 and above.

According to the study, 81% of employees in this age group said they had no retirement plan in 2026, compared with 53% in 2025.

AI use grows at work

The study also highlights the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, with 55% of surveyed employees saying they use AI tools daily. Among those using AI, 91% reported a positive impact on their work.

The benefits include reduced work-related stress (54%), improved productivity (48%) and feeling less overwhelmed by workloads (46%).

However, AI adoption remains uneven across organisations. While 58% of employers said their organisations allow employees to use AI tools, 42% said they do not.

Demand for benefits rises

The study found a significant gap between the benefits employees want and those they currently receive.

Employer-provided superannuation contributions or matching schemes were identified as a priority by 77% of employees, while 62% said they currently receive this benefit.

Similarly, 73% said they need life insurance, but only 38% receive it through their employers. For total and permanent disability insurance, the corresponding figures were 65% and 21%. Meanwhile, 63% said they need income protection, while only 30% receive it.