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Legal & General Construction Wellbeing Programme · Talk 5 of 10

Financial Wellbeing

Toolbox Talk: Money Worries and Mental Health

At a Glance

Financial stress is one of the leading drivers of poor mental health in construction, 32% of workers cite financial pressure as a key cause of anxiety. Irregular work patterns and self-employment can make budgeting harder. But financial worries don't have to be faced alone. Even small steps to get on top of your finances significantly reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.

In the Ownminder App · Managing Mood & Mindset

When financial stress affects your mood, Ownminder's Managing Mood & Mindset section provides tools to regulate your emotional state and rebuild positive outlook.

  • Gratitude: Daily practice: write three things you are grateful for each morning. Activates the Soothing System and builds a buffer against anxiety and low mood.
  • Alone Time: Guides you to carve out quiet time away from screens and noise, essential when financial anxiety is creating constant mental noise.
  • Optimism, Three Good Things: At the end of each day, write down three good things that happened. Rebalances the brain's negativity bias that financial stress amplifies.
  • Grounding, Countdown Technique: When anxiety spikes, 5 things you can see, 4 you can hear, 3 you can touch, 2 you can smell, 1 slow breath. Brings you back to the present moment.

Discussion Questions

  1. Standard Chartered Singapore's wellbeing policies include explicit fair pay commitments. L&G's programme includes a supply chain minimum wage review. How confident are you that pay is fair and transparent on this project?
  2. Without naming specifics, how common do you think financial stress is on sites like ours?
  3. Do people here know what financial support is available through the company or EAP?
  4. What stops people from talking about money worries, and how could we reduce that stigma?
  5. How does financial stress at home affect you and your colleagues at work?
  6. What one step could you take this week to get a clearer picture of your finances?

Recognising the Signs

Signs that money worries are affecting your mental health include: difficulty sleeping due to financial anxiety, avoiding bank statements or letters, arguments with family about money, using alcohol or gambling as an escape, and persistent low mood or hopelessness. These are not signs of weakness, they are signals that support is needed, and support is available. Fair and transparent pay is a CCLA benchmark requirement (Standard 7, Working Conditions). L&G's programme includes a supply chain fair pay audit. The Employee Assistance Programme provides free, confidential financial guidance as well as mental health support.

Things to Try

The Ownminder app signposts financial wellbeing tools. Your EAP also typically includes free financial guidance. Practical first steps:

  • Use a simple budget tracker, even a notes app, to understand what comes in and out
  • Contact your EAP for free, confidential financial guidance
  • Access free debt advice: StepChange (stepchange.org) or Citizens Advice
  • Talk to your employer if experiencing hardship, many firms have hardship funds
  • Check your entitlements, you may be eligible for support you don't know about

Reduced Anxiety

Understanding your finances, even when difficult, reduces the fear of the unknown.

Better Sleep

Financial anxiety is a leading cause of insomnia; taking action helps.

Improved Relationships

Money pressure strains home relationships; getting support helps the whole family.

Support

EAP, free financial guidance (confidential) · Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848 · StepChange 0800 138 1111 · Ownminder app · MHFA on site

Attendance Declaration

I have attended this toolbox talk, heard the content, and know where to access Ownminder, MHFA, EAP and crisis support if I need it.

Name

Signature

Standard 7 (Working Conditions, fair pay) · Accessible Support · Standard 11 (Culture)

NEF: Connect

Lever 3: Healthy Living and Working Conditions, financial insecurity as a psychosocial risk