Many people have put financial planning on the back-burner

Mark Wood, Prudential

The Prudential said all of its 8,000 staff in the UK would benefit from the scheme, which starts next year.

The insurer said one of the reasons for the �27bn "savings gap" was that few people wanted to spend their weeks or evenings sorting out their personal finances, as it was a "serious and sometimes mundane, if not boring, task".

It is estimated that every week more than a quarter of the working population spends more than half an hour at work sorting out credit card bills and other financial issues.

In-house benefits

One advantage of working for an insurer is that workers do not have to travel far for advice.

What is the long-term savings crisis?

Experts say there is a �27bn gap between the amount people save each year and the amount they need to save to achieve a reasonable income in retirement

Prudential staff will be allowed to use an intranet site on financial planning information and tools, as well as in-house seminars for workers and, if possible, their partners.

But they can also use the time to visit their bank or building society or use the office's telephone, internet and computer facilities to resolve their finances.

Mark Wood, head of Pru UK, said: "Many people have put financial planning on the back-burner, deciding instead that asking weekly or monthly money plans is the easy option.

"We are convinced that one of the main reasons why so many people don't have a financial plan is down to a lack of time."

The scheme, promoted as "Prudential day", comes amid the insurer's "the plan from the Pru" brand update campaign.