Singapore - More employees are turning to employers for help with financial planning, and employers are obliging to workers' requests.

Greg Campbell, country manager of ipac financial planning Singapore, says that in his view,  more companies have requested for the provision of financial advice for their employees. And it goes beyond the usual lunchtime talks as employers want to add financial advice into executives' compensation and benefits schemes as well.

A recent study by ipac showed that 57% of the female workers and 62.8% of the male workers in Singapore say that "financial planning advice is as important as other employee benefits".

According to Campbell, this result is mainly due to the fact that many people in the Sandwich Generation face tremendous pressure as they look after their parents, in-laws,  grandparents, in addition to their children. Unlike the US and Australia, Singapore does not provide social safety nets, leading to a lack of retirement income security.

This is where companies step in to help their employees. It is a win-win situation for both parties as companies have witnessed a drop in the rate of absenteeism, increased worker concentration and also better stress management skills. This shows that guidance can result in a tangible dollar benefits for the companies as well.

"In these volatile economic times, this is a cost-effective way of giving your employees more and showing that you care for their long-term well-being and work-life success," Campbell adds.