Firms have been accused of "missing a trick" by failing to offer to help their staff manage their finances.
Three out of four are not given any support or advice to help them understand financial issues, found a survey of 2,000 workers by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Employers were urged to tackle the problem to combat the danger of stress and anxiety-related under-performance among staff worried about debt.
Charles Cotton, of CIPD, said: "The impact of not providing financial education can mean a workforce pre-occupied or overwhelmed by their own financial worries, and unable to appreciate the value of their organisation's pay, benefits and pensions package.
"A little financial education can go a long way. It can improve performance by giving employees the means to alleviate stress and pressure they're under because of financial difficulties.
"It can help boost motivation and staff retention by helping employers to get across the value of the financial benefits they offer to their employees, and by heightening general financial awareness it can create a workforce that better appreciates the business pressures faced by their employers."
Half of those surveyed said they were worried about their financial plans for retirement.
The Press Association, photo by CIPD