The company, co-founded by Cesar Carvalho 12 years ago, has come a long way from its roots as a way to make it easier for people in his native Brazil to work out at the gym. Originally named Gympass, the now New York City-based company was renamed Wellhub earlier this month to expand its range of health services to 15,000 corporate customers and their 2.7 million employees. perfectly reflects.
In addition to providing ways to stay in shape, Wellhub also offers mindfulness training, meditation instruction, sleep assistance and nutritional counseling through partners like Headspace, Nutrium and SleepCycle. Costs to customers depend on the number of employees they cover, as well as add-on options like extending membership to employees’ families.
Carvalho said the comprehensive options allow employees to choose services that fit their needs and support their mental and physical health. Wellhub says the mental health options are crucial. Return of Wellbeing 2024 The report surveyed 2,000 human resources executives at companies with health promotion programs in place. According to respondents, employees value mental health support more than any other benefit.
SHRM Online We spoke to Carvalho about why his business transformed and what it means for program participants. Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.
SHRM Online: Why did you rebrand?
Carvalho: Our product evolved. We went from access to in-person gyms and studios to digital fitness, and then we started partnering in the areas of mental health, mindfulness, nutrition, and improved sleep. Our name didn’t reflect that. We had to work really hard to communicate our value proposition. In meetings with corporate clients, we would hear, “You’re more than just a gym pass.” We were forced to change.
SHRM Online: Why did you start branching out into new fields?
Carvalho: Our clients backed us. They say, “Can you include this app in your product? We love this app and we want to offer it. It makes sense for that solution to be part of your plan.” ”
SHRM Online: What has it been like seeing mental health benefits being top of mind for employees?
Carvalho: I wasn’t surprised at all. Mental health services are one of the fastest growing services on our platform. What’s really important here is that there are many ways to improve your mental health, including sleeping better and eating better. These activities are mutually reinforcing, so everyone can build resilience, reduce anxiety, and improve mental health.
SHRM Online: Was there anything that surprised you during your research?
Carvalho: They are [HR leaders] Earn twice the profit for every dollar of investment [they spent], mainly to reduce medical costs. That was a positive sign. 2 is a very good number. What really matters is hiring employees. participation [in wellness programs] The value is tripled when the leadership team is involved in driving the benefits to employees and leads by example. I had no idea how much influence and influence leaders have on organizations. [wellness programs].
SHRM Online: How can we eliminate the stigma of discussing mental health in the workplace?
Carvalho: If there’s one thing that can make a dramatic difference, it’s the effectiveness of organizational leadership. I think they have blind spots because they think that anyone can do it. [what they can do]As a leader in your organization, you have access to a variety of mental health providers. Get a gym membership, train with a coach, and adjust things to fit your schedule. [mental health], you are not setting an example for others. You need to have a plan in place to help those who may not have access to the resources that you do.
SHRM Online: With so much information out there on the web, why do you think people need all the apps?
There are so many options. It’s complicated. If you want to improve your sleep, Google it. [how]There are 200 ways to improve your sleep. That’s where we come in. We partner with the best players in each field. We help people build healthy habits with different solutions.
