More than half of employees in Bangladesh’s private sector believe that financial stress is reducing their productivity, according to the Employee Benefit Trends Study (EBTS) conducted by MetLife.
The survey, which included over 700 employees from sectors such as garments, banking, telecom, NGOs, FMCG, and manufacturing, revealed that 56% of workers feel their productivity has declined due to financial pressure, while 40% said financial worries negatively affect their mental health.
Although 78% of employees reported being satisfied with their jobs, only 42% said they would recommend their organization to others. Researchers suggest this indicates a disconnect between employee satisfaction and engagement.
The report further shows that two-thirds of employees feel financially insecure, and 53% have no retirement savings plan. Moreover, 69% believe employers should play a greater role in ensuring financial stability for their workforce.
MetLife’s study found that employees who receive adequate benefits are twice as likely to be productive and loyal, yet only about one-third of organizations currently provide comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, or wellness programs.
Additionally, 83% of young employees said they value workplace flexibility the most, but most employers still focus primarily on traditional health and safety benefits.
MetLife Bangladesh CEO Ala Ahmad stated,
“Employee financial and mental well-being is no longer charity — it’s a business strategy. Financial stress and lack of benefits silently erode productivity.”
Researchers have also warned that if organizations fail to address employee well-being in time, Bangladesh’s demographic dividend could turn into a demographic burden in the future.
Sources: The Business Standard, Dhaka Tribune
 conducted by MetLife.){kind=link}