Employers step up to ease money stress

How much does employee stress over personal-financial issues affect performance on the job? ...That's hard to say, but researchers are paying more attention to the link between stress and performance and calling on employers to provide more basic money-management help.

Many firms already provide some guidance when it comes to helping workers manage their 401(k) retirement plans. But the caliber of assistance varies widely and typically addresses only one slice of the financial pie. Many workers also are anxious about paying bills, obtaining loans, dealing with debt and other money issues... "We estimate the productivity loss for the economy is about $4.2 billion," said Thomas Garman, a former Virginia Tech professor who's now research director at the Florida-based Personal Finance Employee Education Foundation...

AZ Central: Employers step up to ease money stress