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“I didn’t have enough money for gas. I arrived late. It was humiliating.”
These words, spoken by a respondent to our most recent survey, illuminate the harsh reality: rising fuel prices, costly repairs and aging vehicles have made it harder than ever for workers to stay on the road. In fact, transportation challenges have emerged as the number one financial emergency hindering workplace productivity – leading to missed shifts, late arrivals and added financial stress, all of which drain business performance.
The good news? There’s a proven, practical solution: Emergency Savings Accounts (ESAs) help employees save for unforeseen emergencies and boost workplace productivity.
Car costs take #1 spot on financial emergencies list
Our latest survey results reveal just how widespread transport problems have become among employees who experienced a financial emergency impacting their work performance. Within this group, a third (33.1%) said their emergency involved car-related issues. Spanning everything from rising gas costs to expensive repairs, transportation issues emerged as the most common work-impacting financial emergency, ahead of medical emergencies (20.6%) and housing issues (15.8%).
Behind these numbers are real people trying to navigate difficult choices. One respondent told us: “An unexpected car repair with no money to fix it came up, so I had to miss work.” For others, stress lingers long after the initial crisis: “A car repair required a substantial investment to rectify and I’m still digging out of it.” These comments show how financial setbacks can spiral into bigger problems when employees don’t have savings to fall back on.
And SecureSave’s platform data reinforces what our survey reveals: among employees who tap their emergency savings, transportation-related needs remain consistently one of the top reasons for withdrawals every month.
The hidden impact of transportation emergencies
Commuting is an unavoidable daily expense that hits hardest when savings are running low. For many workers, a car is a lifeline. Yet vehicles are getting older and repairs are becoming more expensive, while fuel costs remain high. As a result, when a car breaks down or gas money runs short due to another unexpected bill, simply getting to work becomes harder. And for the growing number of workers living paycheck to paycheck, this issue turns into a repeating cycle that’s increasingly difficult to escape.
Of course, missed shifts, late arrivals and the stress of unreliable transportation don’t just affect individual productivity; their impact ripples through teams and operations, reducing hours and focus while negatively impacting morale.
Multiple studies confirm this correlation between financial stress and workplace productivity. Morgan Stanley at Work’s State of the Workplace 2025 Financial Benefits Study tells us that 66% of employees say financial stress negatively affects their work lives. And our research reinforces this: 40% of workers told us they’ve missed work due to financial stress, and 85% said financial concerns had negatively affected their productivity. Transportation-related emergencies are a major contributor to this, given the high percentage of employees who cited them as the reason for their work-impacting financial emergency.
For employers, this doesn’t just translate into lost productivity; it means higher turnover risk along with growing pressure to find ways to support employee financial stability. Increasingly, this is something that traditional benefits miss. Most employers offer retirement plans and health insurance, but far fewer provide tools that help workers build short-term financial resilience. Without that support, workers often turn to payday loans or high-interest credit cards when emergencies arise, trapping them in a cycle of stress and instability.
A simple solution that keeps employees – and businesses – moving
That’s where Emergency Savings Accounts (ESAs) come in. These employer-sponsored benefits make it easy for employees to set aside small amounts automatically, creating a financial cushion they can use for unexpected emergencies, like car repairs, before those expenses escalate into problems that disrupt work
Leading employers recognize the tangible and strategic benefits of offering ESAs. When employees manage financial emergencies without missing work or losing focus, businesses experience fewer absences, stronger retention and higher productivity. According to our research, 82% of employees with 6 or more months of emergency savings haven’t missed work in the last 6 months. And 95% said that a $200 per year employer-sponsored ESA would make them more likely to stay with their current company.
It's no surprise, then, that ESAs are fast becoming a most-have component of modern benefits and financial wellness programs, rated among the most valued tools by employees themselves. Beyond providing peace of mind, they signal that employers understand the financial realities facing their workers.
Transportation troubles may never disappear, but the stress they cause doesn’t have to derail productivity. With an ESA in place, employees have the tools to handle bumps in the road, and employers can keep their teams focused, productive and loyal. It’s a simple solution with lasting impact. And with a 60% adoption rate, SecureSave stands as the most impactful solution on the market.
Get in touch to learn how we’ll help strengthen financial wellbeing across your organization.
