Support Employees With Emergency Savings
Build Financial Resilience With Employer-Sponsored Emergency Savings Accounts
Unexpected expenses are a reality for many employees — but without a financial safety net, even small costs can create significant stress.
For employees, emergency expenses often lead to difficult tradeoffs, including relying on high-interest credit or tapping into long-term savings. For employers, that financial stress can show up in reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover.
Organizations don’t have to leave emergency savings to chance. Employer-sponsored savings programs can help employees build a financial cushion more consistently over time, while helping employers improve stability, strengthen engagement, and reduce the impact of financial stress across the workforce.
Why Supporting Emergency Savings Matters
A significant portion of the workforce lacks sufficient savings to cover unexpected expenses, creating ongoing financial vulnerability. At the same time, employee interest in workplace emergency savings solutions is strong. In a 2026 national survey, nearly 6 in 10 workers said they would be likely to enroll in a workplace emergency savings program if offered by their employer.
When employees lack access to emergency savings, 401(k) hardship withdrawals may increase — undermining long-term retirement security and creating additional administrative burden for plan administrators.
Organizations may also see:
- Increased financial stress across the workforce.
- Greater reliance on credit or loans.
- Disruptions to productivity and attendance.
Supporting emergency savings through employer-sponsored solutions helps employees prepare for the unexpected — reducing financial pressure and improving overall workforce stability.
| Without Structured Emergency Savings Support | With Employer-Sponsored Emergency Savings Support |
|---|---|
| Financial stress across workforce | Reduced financial stress |
| Reliance on credit or loans | Less borrowing for unexpected expenses |
| 401(k) hardship withdrawals | Reduced reliance on retirement savings |
| Disruptions to productivity and attendance | More stable, engaged workforce |
Learn how financial stress impacts workforce performance — and what employers can do to address it.
The Challenge: Access vs. Action
Even when employees intend to save for emergencies, saving often gets deprioritized without structured support.
Barriers may include:
- Competing financial obligations.
- Lack of easy, consistent ways to save.
- Limited awareness of available solutions.
Without a clear path, even well-intentioned employees may struggle to build savings.
How Employers Can Support Emergency Savings
One way employers can support financial resilience is by helping employees set aside funds consistently over time.
An employer-sponsored emergency savings account (ESA) provides a structured way for employees to build savings through payroll deductions, often with optional employer contributions or incentives.1
This approach helps employees build savings gradually, creating a financial safety net that supports short-term stability without disrupting long-term financial goals.
What Makes Employer-Sponsored ESAs Different
Unlike traditional savings approaches that rely entirely on individual effort, employer-sponsored emergency savings accounts provide structure, visibility, and support.
Makes saving easier and more consistent.
Encourages regular contributions over time.
Reduces reliance on credit or retirement withdrawals.
Improves financial resilience across the workforce.
Support Financial Resilience Across Your Workforce
Learn how employer-sponsored emergency savings solutions can help employees prepare for unexpected expenses and strengthen their overall financial wellness strategy.
Emergency Savings Accounts (ESAs)
Help employees build a financial safety net with employer-sponsored emergency savings accounts backed by Nelnet Bank1.
Deposit products offered by Nelnet Bank, Member FDIC.
1 Nelnet Bank is a member of FDIC. BenefitEd is not an FDIC insured depository institution. Nelnet Bank does not provide any insurance coverage on funds prior to their deposit into a customer’s account at Nelnet Bank and makes no representation of their insured status during the interim holding period where funds are held in a separate BenefitEd account for up to 15 days pending transfer to the customer’s Nelnet Bank account. Nelnet Bank is not responsible for ensuring that any potential employer matches or contributions are honored. Contributions or matches by an employer are the sole responsibility of the employer, not Nelnet Bank. In no event are matches or contributions given in exchange for opening, maintaining, renewing or increasing an account balance.