Clinically reviewed by Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA, Chief Clinical Officer, Calm
The perfect storm facing today’s financial services employees
Financial services has always been a high-pressure industry, but today’s professionals face growing uncertainty. Market volatility, economic pressure, and layoffs are creating a work environment marked by chronic stress.
A perfect storm of forces beyond employees’ control threatens their job security. AI-driven automation, inflationary pressures, the shift to digital banking, and reduced deal volumes are among the factors driving ongoing workforce reductions across the industry. In 2026 (as of October), 149 layoffs at finance companies resulted in nearly 60,000 professionals losing their jobs.
Layoffs and job insecurity
Remaining after a layoff can bring relief, but it can also create significant stress. Employees often absorb the responsibilities of former colleagues, resulting in heavier workloads. Many also experience “survivor anxiety” and feel increased pressure to continually prove their value.
Some employees also carry disproportionate workloads. One study found that 11% of financial services workers are overutilized, exceeding company-set productivity targets by at least 30%.
Market volatility and performance pressure
Market volatility adds another layer of mental strain. As economic conditions shift, finance professionals need to make high-stakes decisions quickly and help clients navigate uncertainty while managing their own stress and concerns about the future.
For many employees, expectations of responsiveness are increasing while the margin for error narrows, making it hard to escape from work-related stress.
Economic pressure and workforce stress
Cost-cutting measures, tighter budgets, and productivity demands often leave teams feeling stretched thin and expected to do more with less.
As these demands converge from multiple directions, sustained strain can become a persistent feature of the work environment rather than a temporary challenge.
How economic uncertainty is reshaping the day-to-day employee experience
Over time, that pressure and uncertainty can have a major impact on the daily employee experience. Long hours, being expected to always be “on,” and a lack of adequate recovery time become the norm. According to one study, the average workday in financial services is over nine hours, and nearly 10% of employees work more than four hours on average on both Saturdays and Sundays.
When employees are expected to stay engaged, responsive, and productive without adequate time to recharge, they may experience a range of stress-related challenges to their health and performance. Unaddressed stress is associated with anxiety, depression, and memory and focus issues.
The business impact of employee stress in financial services
Chronic stress affects more than employee health and wellbeing. It can have significant consequences for organizational performance as well.
- Research suggests that sustained stress and exhaustion can impair memory, attention, concentration, decision-making, and the ability to process information quickly—cognitive functions that are critical for finance professionals whose roles demand attention to detail and sound judgment in high-stakes situations.
- According to one study, nearly half of banking employees reported experiencing burnout in the past year, and 66% said they’d consider leaving if the right opportunity came along. When expertise, institutional knowledge, and client relationships are critical, the loss of experienced talent can be costly and disruptive. SHRM estimates the financial impact of replacing an employee at 50% to 200% of the employee’s annual salary, depending on the role and other factors.
Where traditional mental health benefits fall short
Virtually all financial services organizations offer mental health benefits, such as employee assistance programs (EAPs), but these resources often go unused due to stigma, time constraints, and other barriers.
The industry’s “tough-it-out” culture can discourage employees from seeking support due to concerns about stigma, privacy, or how they may be perceived. According to one survey, fewer than half (46%) of financial services professionals say they’d feel confident discussing mental health challenges with their manager.
Practical barriers also play a role. Busy schedules, heavy workloads, and limited awareness of available resources may all contribute to low engagement. In the US, EAP utilization remains stuck at roughly 5% to 7%.
Without mental health support that’s aligned with their needs and daily realities, many financial services professionals may continue to struggle with stress and burnout before they seek help. According to Calm’s survey, 36% of finance workers report feeling stressed and anxious, and nearly 30% feel depressed and hopeless.
What effective mental health support looks like in high-pressure environments
In high-pressure, tough-it-out workplace environments, employees need more than reactive, crisis-based support. They need mental wellness support that’s proactive, simple to access, and comfortable to use without fear of judgment or ramifications.
A mental health solution should
- Support employees experiencing stress and help them build resilience as part of their daily routine;
- Be easy to access within the flow of the workday, without requiring complex scheduling processes or time-consuming appointments;
- Encourage consistent engagement and positive habit-building;
- Offer support that feels private and stigma-free, so employees can seek help without concerns about how they might be perceived; and
- Scale across geographies, ensuring that employees in all locations have equitable access to the same level of support.
Digital mental wellness solutions can help meet these needs by providing on-demand resources that employees can access whenever they need support.
Building a more resilient workforce with Calm Health
The pressures facing financial services employees, from market volatility and economic uncertainty to layoffs and rising workloads, are unlikely to ease anytime soon. Organizations that take an early, preventive approach to mental wellbeing can help employees manage stress before it contributes to burnout, disengagement, or turnover.
Calm Health supports this effort with a scalable, preventive approach to mental wellness. By providing personalized, on-demand support, Calm Health supports employees looking to build resilience, manage stress, improve sleep, and develop healthy habits.
When employees have access to support they can use every day, organizations can foster a more resilient workforce while supporting engagement, performance, and retention. In an industry where talent is a key competitive advantage, investing in employee well-being is an investment in long-term success.
