From perk to priority: why Payroll Savings is the one feature every benefits platform needs in 2025
With financial stress now impacting over 75% of workers as well as the biggest driver of disengagement, absenteeism, and turnover, financial wellbeing has shifted from buzzword to boardroom priority. And when it comes to benefits platforms, one feature is moving rapidly from “nice to have” to non-negotiable: Payroll Savings.
In 2025, platforms that don’t support payroll-linked savings risk falling short - not just on functionality, but on relevance. Employers are asking for it. RFPs are demanding it. And benefits consultants are increasingly treating it as a baseline requirement.
“More and more employers are making payroll savings a must-have in their benefits stack - it’s fast becoming a deciding factor when selecting a new platform. If your offer doesn’t include it, you risk being left behind.”
Why this shift is happening right now
We’re seeing a significant mindset change across the industry: financial wellbeing is no longer about one-off support, earned wage access or surface-level perks. Employers want solutions that deliver long-term impact and they’re being vocal about it.
The conversation has moved on from “do you offer a savings product?” to “can we embed it in our onboarding journey?”
Can employees save straight from their pay?
Is it available to all staff, regardless of income?
Does it work alongside other tools like earned wage access?
And the answer to all of the questions - is yes!
Here’s what we’re hearing from across the benefits space:
“If you’re offering Earned Wage Access (EWA) then payroll savings is an essential counter-part. Without a way to build a financial buffer, EWA can create a cycle of dependence. Employers with the most impactful benefits are pairing the two to drive real financial wellbeing.”
What benefits buyers are looking for in 2025
Whether you’re responding to RFPs or pitching to brokers, you’ve likely already seen the shift. Financial resilience - once a secondary consideration - is now a front-page topic. And increasingly, payroll savings is the marker of a serious financial wellbeing strategy.
Here’s what we’re hearing from across the benefits space:
“Financial resilience is now a top priority for employees, and providers who can’t support payroll savings risk falling short on impact, engagement, and long-term value.”
At Sync, we’re hearing the same thing across the board: buyers want simplicity, automation, and proven outcomes. They want to be able to say, “Yes, we’re helping our employees build an emergency fund - every single payday.”
What this means for benefits platforms
The bar is fast-rising. If you’re building or distributing a platform that helps employers take care of their people, financial resilience needs to be part of your story.
Here’s what top-performing platforms are doing:
Embedding payroll savings into the employee journey as a core benefit and not as an after-thought
Integrating seamlessly with payroll providers to make setup effortless
Offering visibility and reporting to employers to demonstrate impact
Partnering with trusted providers to reduce admin and compliance risk
If that’s not already part of your roadmap, now’s the time to act.
Final thoughts
The message from the market is loud and clear: Payroll Savings is no longer optional. In a benefits landscape defined by value, trust, and outcomes, it’s the most impactful financial wellness benefit that works instantly and every payday. Payroll savings has become the feature that defines a platform’s relevance in 2025.
Don’t get left behind.
👉 Want to add payroll savings to your platform? Get in touch - we make it easy.
