The new service from the wellbeing champion offers personalised answers to any financial question from certified coaches, educational courses and webinars on popular personal finance topics, such as budgeting and strengthening your family finances.

Users can also access Claro Wellbeing’s exclusive digital tools, such as its financial health score and budgeting app, expert articles and engaging video content to help them stay in control of their money and reach their financial goals.

The chat with a coach feature, which has seen engagement rates in excess of 58% in recent workplace trials, connects every member of staff - whether they work remotely, in shifts or on the shop floor - to one of Claro Wellbeing’s financial coaches between 9am and 6pm during the week.

Personalised guidance is delivered securely to employees’ mobile phones typically within two hours.

Claro Wellbeing’s research suggests many workers experience barriers with accessing financial information or guidance. More than a quarter (26%) say there is a lack of affordable options, whereas 17% say they find it too confusing.

And with almost one in five (19%) workers saying they don’t know where to find help with their finances, Claro Wellbeing’s new WhatsApp service provides an accessible way for all employees to get guidance on-the-go, regardless of industry or role. No appointment or desktop is required, nor is any time needed to be taken out of the working day.

Stacey Lowman, Head of Employee Wellbeing at Claro Wellbeing, says: “For too long, frontline staff have been excluded from high-quality wellbeing benefits. This is because these benefits are typically offered via a desktop platform or require an email address.

“Financial stress affects everyone and can impact our work, relationships as well as physical and mental health. Frontline workers are at particular risk, given the comparably low salaries, long hours and market instability in sectors such as hospitality, retail and leisure.

“Claro Wellbeing is flying the flag for financial inclusion. Our mission is to provide market-leading financial wellbeing benefits to every deskless workforce across the country, built specifically for them and delivered via WhatsApp. We prioritise the needs of frontline employees by offering customised financial products, engaging educational content and a dedicated support team to give them the benefits they deserve.

“What’s more, with eight in 10 people using WhatsApp in the UK for 37-40 minutes a day, on average, the onboarding process is not only frictionless but it can also increase the uptake of other workplace benefits.

“Feeling more confident and in control of finances has a direct impact on employee wellbeing and mental health. So businesses that are able to support their workforce with financial wellbeing benefits will see wellbeing and productivity directly improve as a result.

“Making sure financial wellbeing is accessible to all employees, including those that are typically more difficult to reach, such as employees who are not desk-based or who work remotely, is important to achieving equality across a workforce, ensuring no member of staff is excluded.

“We’ve seen incredible engagement levels already and we’re confident this service will be a hit in all industries that are prioritising their workforces’ financial wellbeing.”