Employees' Financial Wellness

Pick up a newspaper and you’re likely to read about some disturbing trends. Health care costs are on the rise, insurance can be difficult to come by, wages are shrinking, and many employees aren’t taking full advantage of benefits that can help them ease these worries. With today’s tough economy taking a toll on workers, more and more employers are seeing the value of financial wellness programs.

One in four American workers is seriously distressed about their personal financial situation. This often translates into problems with productivity, attendance, and retention – all factors that affect the bottom line. Studies have shown that up to 80% of financially distressed workers spend time on personal financial issues instead of working.

With these concerns in mind, a new program was designed to help ease the stresses of everyday life for Chicago workers and in turn, enhance their work and relationship with their employer. Dubbed ‘Chicago Supports Workers’, this new initiative from the Center for Economic Progress is working to help employees of local employers to gain access to important programs and benefits they may not be aware of.

In cooperation with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the City of Chicago and RealBenefits, the Center partners with numerous local employers to bring health insurance screening and enrollment, tax assistance, financial education and savings and credit education to hundreds of Chicago workers.

Employers include Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Hyatt Regency on the River Walk, Hilton Hotel, Magid Glove and Safety, Christy Webber Landscaping, ARAMARK Regional Staffing Center, James Hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

This program is made possible by grants from the Families and Work Institute and the Field Foundation. For more information on this initiative, contact (312) 252-0280 x274. Read the Chicago Tribune article on Chicago Supports Workers.