After being hospitalised with burnout, Jonny Mirkin decided to turn corporate wellbeing on its head. Years of therapy, exercise and improved nutrition helped him to rebuild his health – and it also sparked a bigger question. What if support had been available before things fell apart?

“I realised that in most organisations, wellbeing support only kicks in once people are already sick,” he says. “Starting a wellbeing company wasn’t on my radar, but I could see the opportunity to make a real difference for teams of all sizes by taking a proactive approach.”

That insight led to a simple but powerful idea. While teams include people with different cultures, needs and experiences most workplace wellbeing still follows a one-size-fits-all model.

“Wellbeing means different things to each of us,” says Mirkin. “Whether it’s working with a therapist, joining a gym, meditating or learning to budget, support needs to be personal. A free gym membership seems to be a great offer, but it ends up unused. That’s a missed opportunity for real impact.”

The birth of Givenwell

That thinking led to Givenwell – a wellbeing platform that gives people access to personalised and confidential support via a digital allowance funded by their employer. Employers decide how much to offer and how they want to use it. Some provide a recurring monthly, quarterly or annual allowance, while others use Givenwell for one-off gifts, bonuses or team rewards. For organisations without a dedicated wellbeing budget, many simply redirect their existing spend on perks or recognition to the more meaningful alternative of Givenwell.

“As employers set the amount, they effectively control how much Givenwell costs,” says Mirkin. “Some choose to be generous, others start small. The model is flexible by design, which makes it easy to tailor to any team or budget. And, since Givenwell earns its revenue from over 500 wellbeing providers across Aotearoa and Australia, employers don’t pay platform fees to use Givenwell.”

Staff can choose from a wide range of options including therapy, coaching, massage, fitness, yoga, ADHD and perimenopause support or even local sports clubs. They can book directly through the marketplace or upload a receipt for reimbursement and, if their allowance doesn’t fully cover their choice, they can even top up their balance themselves.

Early results

Just 12 months in, Givenwell is already seeing strong results. Among its first cohort of employers, the platform recorded a 99% utilisation rate, a sharp contrast to traditional employee assistance programs (EAPs) where usage typically sits at about 5%.

A survey of Givenwell members from earlier this year also found:

• A 100% increase in staff reporting that their wellbeing is great

• A 30% increase in fully engaged and motivated staff

• A 19% increase in staff intending to stay with their employer for the long term.

Mirkin believes in giving people choice. “When people are empowered to choose what wellbeing means for them, they actually use it,” he says. “And when you prioritise wellbeing for your team, the research is clear. You get more engagement, fewer sick days, better retention and stronger performance. It’s a win for everyone.” 

Find out how Givenwell could support your team

Givenwell is the newest addition to the CA ANZ Member Benefits Program. CA ANZ members receiving at least $80/month in wellbeing allowance through Givenwell can access a free three-month subscription to one of three services. Get started by booking a demo or redeem the offer at: givenwell.com/ca-anz or email: [email protected]