Smart Benefits for the Savvy HR Leader: How NYC Companies Maximize Their Wellness ROI with Wellhub

New York companies move fast — and their people move faster. In a city where competition for top talent never slows down, HR leaders are rethinking what smart benefits really mean. The answer isn’t more perks; it’s meaningful wellbeing programs that deliver measurable ROI.

Across the five boroughs, employers like SoFi and Aflac are proving flexible, people-first wellness strategies that build stronger businesses. Backed by Wellhub, these organizations are scaling wellbeing in ways that save costs, strengthen retention, and keep teams performing at their best.

Here’s how the most forward-thinking companies in New York are turning wellness into their smartest investment yet.

SoFi: Wellbeing at Scale

When your company is scaling fast, it’s easy for employee wellbeing to get left behind. SoFi, a leading U.S.-based digital personal finance company with more than 2,500 employees across 24 locations, wasn’t about to let that happen. As its workforce grew and diversified, SoFi’s HR team knew they needed a benefits strategy that could keep pace — one that would meet individual needs while supporting collective growth.

“As a result of SoFi’s rapid growth, we’re becoming a more diverse workforce — and everybody has unique needs,” said Director of Benefits Debbie Westover. “It’s very important that our [benefits] program speaks to those needs and is able to support [our] people no matter where they are in their life journey,” she said.

That vision led SoFi to Wellhub, where flexibility and inclusion meet simplicity. The platform offered everything SoFi’s team was looking for: in-person and virtual fitness options, on-demand wellbeing tools, and a seamless backend experience that reduced HR workload.

Westover quickly saw the difference. Before Wellhub, program administration was cumbersome, and engagement was uneven. After the switch, operations ran smoothly — and employee enthusiasm spiked. [Before], there were a lot of pain points on the back end. It’s just been running so much smoother since we moved to Wellhub, I don’t have to run around and try to solve problems [anymore],” she said.

And Wellhub’s people-first approach aligned perfectly with SoFi’s own culture of care. The ability for employees to chat directly with a Wellhub representative made support personal. And when the pandemic hit, Wellhub’s adaptability became even more valuable. “You were quick to respond to what the pandemic threw at you,” Westover said. “This is super important in this day and age.”

The company quickly hit 30% engagement, Westover’s working toward 50%. For her, that’s a sign that wellbeing has become part of SoFi’s DNA. “I think it just breeds loyalty not only to Wellhub, but also to SoFi.”

And she’s right — because when employees feel seen, supported, and empowered to care for their health, loyalty naturally follows.

According to Wellhub’s Return on Wellbeing 2025: The CEO Edition, 73% of CEOs say their wellbeing programs improve talent retention, and 80% agree that they strengthen their ability to attract top talent.

🪫 How NYC Companies Are Combating Employee Burnout and Boosting Productivity 🔋

Aflac: Turning Wellness Into a Strategic Cost Saver

When Aflac decided to revamp its approach to employee wellness, it wasn’t just about improving benefits. It was about redefining the company’s investment in its people.

As a household name in supplemental insurance, Aflac faced a challenge that many HR leaders know all too well — rising healthcare costs driven by short-term fixes. The company was spending nearly $25 million a year on GLP-1 medications for just 1,000 employees, offering coverage at a $25 copay. That level of spending wasn’t sustainable. But more importantly, it wasn’t advancing long-term health.

Enter Wellhub, the platform that helped Aflac shift from reaction to prevention. By introducing Wellhub in 2022, Aflac replaced a fragmented model with a holistic wellbeing strategy that supported physical, emotional, nutritional, and family health.

The results were immediate. On day one, 15% of employees enrolled, and participation continued to climb. By 2023, Aflac expanded access through Wellhub+, covering the Starter plan at no cost to employees. This single move removed a key barrier to participation and signaled that wellbeing was a true organizational priority.

The impact? As of 2025, 45% of Aflac employees are active Wellhub users, engaging with resources ranging from meditation sessions and yoga classes to fitness memberships and sleep tools. “We wanted to be sure the platform could support us,” said Tricia Griggs, Manager of Wellness and Safety at Aflac. “And it did.”

The change extended far beyond numbers. Aflac’s leadership didn’t just sponsor the program — they lived it. Executives joined challenges, spoke about wellness at town halls, and became role models for balance. “There’s no dollar amount greater than saving someone’s life,” Griggs said. “If one person changes their mind after a mental health webinar, that’s success.”

This cultural commitment created a ripple effect. New hires cited the wellness program as a reason for joining the company. Some retirees even postponed leaving so they could keep their Wellhub access. That’s the kind of impact HR leaders dream of — wellness as a retention driver, not just a benefit.

And they’re not alone. According to Wellhub’s Return on Wellbeing 2024 study , 98% of HR leaders say their wellbeing program reduces turnover, while 91% say it lowers healthcare costs.

By investing in whole-person wellness instead of high-cost prescriptions, Aflac found a new kind of ROI — one measured not just in savings, but in stronger culture and employee trust.

💪 How Wellhub Makes Wellness More Accessible for NYC Employees🧘

NYC Employers See the Value of Flexibility

New York has always been a proving ground for innovation — and employee benefits are no exception.

Companies in NYClike Northwell Health, Blue Yonder, Options for Learning, Vertex, and Ameresco show how different sectors can reach the same destination: measurable wellness impact. Whether they’re managing hybrid teams, remote workers, or essential frontline staff, each one has discovered how Wellhub turns wellness into a strategy that scales:

• "Wellhub was one of the best decisions we ever made. Not everything resonates, not everything sticks. And there are things we’ve tried and they haven’t worked. Wellhub is working."  Maxine Carrington, Chief People Officer at Northwell Health
   
• "Ameresco's priority for employees are their wellbeing and work-life balance.  Wellhub provides access for not only employees, but their family members as well to physical and mental wellbeing. There are many resources to stay active and help maintain financial and mental wellness within Wellhub!" - Amanda Voorhees, Payroll Administrator at Ameresco Inc.
   
• "I love Wellhub's wellbeing and fitness solutions.  They offer a great diversity of in-person gyms and studios, online group classes, 1:1 sessions, and mobile apps that is perfect for our remote and travel associates.  This is a true benefit that you can take advantage whether you work in a designated area or you travel for work in the US and globally. We are happy with the positive feedback from our associates and the flexibility they have with Wellhub.” — Brenda Navarrete, Benefits Analyst at Blue Yonder
   
• "Whether that’s participating in yoga, or group fitness sessions, or just joining a local gym - understanding that one size does not fit all and having multiple programs in each of our pillar areas which include physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial wellbeing. We couldn’t do that without Wellhub." — Lauren Dolinski, Director of Employee Wellness at Northwell Health

Smart Benefits, Stronger Business

SoFi and Aflac show that when companies invest in wellbeing, everyone wins. Their strategies prove wellness drives retention, lowers costs, and builds loyalty — not just morale. In a city that runs on results, NYC leaders know flexibility and care fuel performance.

Speak with a member of Wellhub’s sales team to build a benefits strategy that strengthens your people and your bottom line.