Wellable Weekly

In this week’s episode, Nick and Geoff explore how companies are reallocating resources to fund AI projects and what that means for employees. From layoffs and voluntary buyouts to reductions in parental leave and other core benefits, they unpack the different strategies organizations are using to cut costs to fund token use, data centers, and other AI investments. The conversation also dives into how these shifts are influencing employee experience, talent retention, and even the growing popularity of health fairs as a way to communicate difficult benefits changes.Key Takeaways • Companies are shifting significant dollars toward AI investments, including infrastructure, compute, and tokens, which are affecting the balance between human and technological capital while forcing difficult trade-offs in workforce spending • Layoffs remain the most visible cost-cutting strategy, but organizations are also using quieter approaches like benefit reductions, return-to-office mandates, and voluntary buyouts to manage headcount • Zoom and Deloitte have made notable cuts to parental leave and other core benefits, signaling a broader trend of scaling back high-value employee perks introduced during the pandemic • Voluntary buyouts, like Microsoft’s program, may unintentionally push out top talent, since employees with the strongest external opportunities are often the most likely to opt in • The labor market has shifted in favor of employers, giving companies more leverage to make unpopular changes while expecting many employees to stay • Health fairs and similar engagement initiatives may be rising in popularity as organizations look for more positive, engaging ways to communicate benefit reductions

In this guest episode, Nick sits down with Al Lewis, founder of Quizzify and the Validation Institute, to challenge long-held assumptions about workplace wellness. From his dramatic reversal on health screenings to a deep dive into GLP-1 education strategies, Al shares candid insights on what works and what does not in employee health. The conversation explores how a new, low-cost screening technology could reshape population health strategies, why most wellness ROI claims fall short, and how employers can better manage the surge in demand for weight loss drugs.Key TakeawaysAl Lewis has reversed his stance on biometric screenings after investing in a new, non-invasive technology that delivers similar insights at a much lower cost and with greater accessibilityTraditional screenings often fail due to high costs, administrative burden, and false positives, making them inefficient at scaleMany wellness ROI claims should be viewed critically, as they often rely on self-reported outcomes and selective data that do not accurately reflect true behavior change or cost savingsGLP-1 drugs are growing in popularity, but high dropout rates highlight the need for better education and expectation settingEducational content can help employers guide employees through GLP-1 decisions and improve long-term success

In this week's episode, Nick and Geoff dig into Mark Zuckerberg's effort to build a digital clone of himself for Meta's 80,000 employees—and what it reveals about where management is really heading. They explore Jack Dorsey's bold prediction that middle management will effectively go extinct and why a week-long trial period during the hiring process might be the antidote to an application process flooded with AI-generated resumes and cover letters.Key TakeawaysMark Zuckerberg is building an AI digital clone of himself so employees can interact with his thinking, strategies, and feedback at scale, raising questions about where AI-assisted leadership adds value and where it falls shortAI clones may excel at repeating and clarifying strategic communication but struggle to replicate the nuance, candor, and two-way iteration that make leadership conversations meaningfulJack Dorsey predicted the extinction of middle management, with AI enabling manager-to-employee ratios that would have been unthinkable even five years agoAI is transforming both sides of hiring: Employers use it to filter candidates, while job seekers use it to generate highly customized applications at scale, making the traditional resume process increasingly unreliableWeek-long trial periods are emerging as a compelling alternative to traditional interviews, giving both employers and candidates a more honest, real-world window into fit

In this week's episode, Nick and Geoff dig into a BCG study of 1,500 U.S. workers that puts a name to something many employees are quietly experiencing: "AI brain fry". They unpack how the push to use more AI agents is driving cognitive overload, decision fatigue, and real productivity losses—and why tying compensation to AI usage metrics may be making things worse. They close with a striking real-world illustration: a solo founder who built a $1.8 billion business with AI says his only reason to hire now is loneliness.Key TakeawaysA new BCG study coins the term "AI brain fry"—acute cognitive overload distinct from burnout—affecting employees increasingly pushed to manage multiple AI agents simultaneouslyProductivity gains from AI peak at two to three tools and actually decline beyond that, challenging the assumption that more AI use always means more outputMarketing and HR are among the hardest-hit functions, with nearly one in five employees in those departments reporting "AI brain fry"Workers whose managers actively answer AI-related questions report 15% lower mental fatigue scores, making manager involvement one of the most practical interventions availableTying compensation to AI usage metrics—like token consumption or lines of AI-generated code—drives behavior that prioritizes activity over impact, accelerating brain fry rather than reducing it

In this week's episode, Nick and Geoff dig into a WallStreet Journal article about why working in America has become so joyless. They unpack the two forces driving workplace dissatisfaction—shrinking perks and the rise of AI—and explore the "AI engagement paradox," a concept gainingtraction that links AI use to lower social connection at work. They also share a practical example of how collaborative AI use can preserve the social element of work while still delivering the efficiency gains companies are chasing. Key Takeaways:Shrinking perks and AI-driven changes are combining to make the workplace feel increasingly less enjoyable, according to a new Wall Street Journal reportCFOs mentioned "efficiency" on over 300 earnings calls in Q1—up 40% year over year and the highest level since 2020—signaling a top-down squeeze employees are feeling dailyThe more employees interact with AI instead of colleagues, the more they are isolated and the lower their overall connection to work, risking burnoutCollaborative AI use, where teams work together on AI-driven projects rather than solo, can preserve the social element of work while still capturing meaningful efficiency gains

In this week’s episode, Nick and Geoff explore how shifting social behaviors among Gen Z—particularly reduced in-person interactions—are impacting workplace readiness. They dive into how employers can rethink development through in-person experiences and skill-building and how broader economic uncertainty is shaping employee sentiment, job mobility, and the need for continuous upskilling. Key Takeaways:Only about 56% of Gen Z enter adulthood having engaged in a romantic relationship, versus 75% of older generations, signaling reduced exposure to experiences that build communication and interpersonal skillsGen Z is socializing less overall, contributing to underdeveloped skills that are critical for workplace successIn-person work environments can accelerate the development of communication and collaboration skills that are harder to build in remote settings27% of employees who changed jobs recently took a pay cut, highlighting a shift in job market dynamics and reduced bargaining powerOnly 28% of employees report feeling secure in their current job, reflecting widespread economic uncertainty and anxietyJob growth remains stagnant, with effectively zero net new jobs created in recent data, reinforcing concerns about labor market stabilityMore employees are “struggling” than “thriving” for the first time in Gallup’s tracking, with implications for engagement, productivity, and well-beingUpskilling, especially in response to AI and evolving job requirements, is increasingly critical for job security and career advancement

In this episode, Nick sits down with Dave Kerrigan of BenefitPitch for the podcast's first ever guest appearance. Dave shares insights from 20,000 benefit professionals based on their search activity in BenefitPitch, revealing what employers and brokers are actually looking for, what's surprisingly popular, and what categories may be ripe for disruption. Key Takeaways:Pet insurance and pet services ranked 4th among all benefit searches on BenefitPitch, signaling it's approaching must-have status EAP services topped the list and COBRA and tax-advantage health accounts (e.g., HSAs, FSAs) rounded out the top three, suggesting these are "staple" categories Categories like COBRA, ACA compliance, and benefits administration keep getting searched year after year, which signals an opportunity for disruption rather than satisfaction with existing solutionsGLP-1s are likely to expand well beyond weight loss into addiction, behavioral health, and other categories that employers aren't yet fully accounting for in their benefits strategyDave is bearish on ICHRA enrollment projections, arguing that adverse risk selection could cause individual market premiums to outpace employer contributions over timeResources: BenefitpitchBenefitPitch Trend Report | Super Benefits Bowl: The 2025 RecapLinkedinlinkedin.com/in/djk74

Nearly one third of employees say they would switch employers for GLP-1 coverage, signaling just how mainstream these drugs have become. In this week's episode, Nick and Geoff unpack the cost implications for employers; how clinical support programs can help manage those costs and increase value from the investment; and how HR leaders should think about coverage decisions based on their company's size, industry, and culture. Key Takeaways:Nearly one third of employees would switch employers for GLP-1 coverage, making it one of the first drug classes to factor meaningfully into recruitment and retentionNearly half of employees are already using third-party apps to find GLP-1 drugs at lower pricesAdding GLP-1 coverage for weight loss could increase employer health insurance premiums by 5.3% to 13.8%51% of employers now cite GLP-1s as the top driver of prescription cost growthClinical support and lifestyle management programs can serve as meaningful gatekeepers, helping manage costs while ensuring employees get the most out of the drugHR leaders should ground coverage decisions in a clear understanding of their company's size, industry, and culture because the right benefits strategy looks very different depending on the company and value proposition they are offering employees

In this episode, Nick and Geoff review the fictional post-mortem report from Citrini Research that evaluates how we got to a June 2028 economy characterized by higher unemployment and lower stock valuations (hint: rapid AI advancement outpaces workforce adaptation). They explore the short-term and long-term implications for the workforce and corporate strategies.Key Takeaways:The Citrini scenario imagines unemployment surpassing 10% by 2028, driven largely by white-collar layoffs as AI boosts efficiency and reduces the need for human laborBlock’s 40% workforce reduction illustrates a “rip the bandage off” strategy: accelerating AI adoption immediately rather than managing gradual layoffs that could erode moraleCompanies like Meta and Accenture are tying AI usage to performance reviews and promotions, signaling that AI fluency may become a core competencyOrganizations that educate, evangelize, and share AI success stories may see productivity gains without immediate workforce disruption but long-term structural risks remain

In this episode, Nick and Geoff discuss the rapid adoption of GLP-1 drugs; recent FDA crackdowns on compound pharmacies; and the implications for employers, consumers, and the healthcare industry. They explore market dynamics, regulatory challenges, and the potential economic impact of GLP-1s.Takeaways:1 in 5 employers cover GLP-1s for weight loss, 12% of US adults report currently using the medicationFDA crackdown on compound pharmacies and active ingredients will affect GLP-1 supply, as compound versions surged amid shortagesMarket demand is strong, and employers will continue to face decisions on eligibility for coverage as supply tightensBroader economic impact of GLP-1s is only beginning to unfold, with early ripple effects already appearing in industries like airlines and food as consumer behavior and health trends shift

In this episode, Nick and Geoff discuss the recent market reaction to AI disruptions in the insurance industry. They explore the implications of AI for insurance brokers, the historical context of other seemingly disruptive technologies, and what future innovation could mean for the industry. The conversation emphasizes the long-term perspectives on the impact of technology and the evolving needs of businesses.Takeaways: Insurance shopping platform Insurify sparked fears after launching AI insurance comparison tool, resulting in a significant drop in stock prices for US insurance brokersHistory lesson: Zenefits, once seen as a major threat to traditional health insurance brokers, didn't have significant impact on the industryICHRAs is gaining traction as a flexible health insurance optionSmall businesses have been incubation markets for innovation in the broker industryInsurance brokers must adapt to changing market dynamicsAI will likely play a role in the future of insurance procurement, but the complexity of health insurance requires expert guidance

In this episode, Geoff and Nick have some post-Super Bowl fun by discussing Anthropic's commercial that humorously critiques the potential for ads in AI tools. They focus on the reality of AI at work and the challenges businesses face when implementing AI, emphasizing the need for commitment and workflow changes to achieve success. They also highlight the importance of understanding AI limitations and the human element in AI interactions. Takeaways:Super Bowl Monday sees a significant number of absences in the workplaceAnthropic's ad cleverly critiques the potential for ads in AI tools95% of AI implementations deliver zero return on investment, according to an MIT studySuccessful AI projects require commitment and workflow changesAI tools need to be integrated thoughtfully into existing processes, while considering their limitations

In this episode, Nick Patel (CEO at Wellable) and Geoff Geredien (CGO at Wellable) discuss the implications of a lawsuit filed by former Google employee Jeff Sklarin, who claims he faced discrimination after disclosing his mental health challenges. The conversation explores the responsibilities companies have to respond appropriately when encouraging mental health discussions, the role of HR in addressing employee concerns, and the importance of training for managers to handle sensitive topics effectively. They also share insights on the need for clear company policies and the potential outcomes of the lawsuit.Article Link: ⁠https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/employment-law/ex-employee-sues-google-claims-manager-weaponized-mental-health-disclosure/563154Takeaways:Any publicity is not always good publicity: Google is in the spotlight for a lawsuitCase raises questions about mental health disclosures at workEncouraging openness about mental health carries responsibilityTraining for managers is essential in handling sensitive topicsClear company policies should be the priority, because they can be applied uniformlyExamples include better documentation around disclosures, straightforward support like built-in mental health days, and healthcare that covers mental health providersFor more insights, subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.wellable.co/resources/subscribe-to-newsletter/

In this episode, Nick Patel (CEO at Wellable) and Geoff Geredien (CGO at Wellable) unpack Amazon’s latest RTO push—a new tracking dashboard that monitors employee attendance and time in the office. They discuss how and why the company is cracking down, and what it might mean for the future of their workforce. The conversation then turns to Amazon’s growing reliance on warehouse automation and what replacing 600,000 potential roles with robots means for the company. Looking for more insights? Subscribe to our newsletter!

In this episode, Nick Patel (CEO at Wellable) and Geoff Geredien (CGO at Wellable) unpack the revamped food pyramid—how it builds on the familiar MyPlate guidance, what’s new, and what it means for workplace wellness initiatives. They also examine early buzz around Trump’s proposed healthcare plan. While details remain unclear, the potential impact on employer-sponsored benefits and HR strategies could be significant. Tune in for key takeaways and what HR leaders should watch for next.For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter: www.wellable.co/resources/subscribe-to-newsletter/

In this episode of Wellable Weekly, Nick Patel (CEO at Wellable) and Geoff Geredien (CGO at Wellable) discuss the evolution of workplace socialization, particularly the decline of happy hours. They explore the reasons behind this trend, including remote work and changing drinking habits among younger generations. The conversation emphasizes the need for organizations to rethink social events to foster connections and combat isolation in the workplace.For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter!

Glassdoor named “fatigue” its Word of the Year, highlighting just how widespread workplace burnout has become. This week, we look at four stories that reveal what employers can do to promote rest, reduce financial stress, and support long-term well-being. For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter!

A founder’s public meltdown, stalled progress on gender equity, and growing fears about AI  reveal how leadership decisions can ripple through culture, confidence, and the future of work. We explore what happens when leaders fall out of sync with the values they promote, and how to rebuild trust in uncertain times.For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter!

This week on Wellable Weekly, we explore what happens when culture fails to support well-being. From a high-profile discrimination case against SHRM to data revealing just how few employees feel appreciated, each story offers a wake-up call on the emotional and financial costs of misalignment. We’ll dive into the root causes of the “Sunday Scaries,” the dangers of tone-deaf benefits, and how small cultural shifts can prevent big morale problems. Plus, stay tuned for a practical tip to help you surface hidden culture gaps before they turn into talent losses. For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter!

In this bonus episode, hosts Nick Patel and Geoff Geredien launch a new conversation series that breaks down the trends reshaping workplace well-being. They explore the rise of “forever layoffs,” a shift toward smaller, rolling staff reductions, and what this means for culture and engagement. The discussion also dives into the impact of artificial intelligence on workforce transformation, from evolving job roles to new hiring strategies. It’s a candid, insightful conversation designed to help leaders navigate disruption with clarity, care, and confidence.For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter!

This week we dive into two fast-growing trends threatening team morale: “revenge quitting” and “ghost growth.” Plus, we’ll explore why holiday parties are making a strategic comeback, and how forward-thinking office design is being reimagined for comfort, flexibility, and connection. Don’t miss this week’s practical tip on recognizing the signs of disengagement—and taking action before talent walks out the door. For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter!

In this episode of Wellable Weekly, we explore how small wellness practices and shifting workforce dynamics are shaping the modern workplace. Learn how just 12 days of gratitude journaling can enhance focus and engagement, why Zillennials are relying on AI for benefits decisions, and what new research reveals about the hidden risks of poor sleep.Plus, hear how the majority of employed caregivers are now men—and what that really means for workplace equity. Don’t miss this week’s practical tip on fostering gratitude at work. For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠⁠https://www.wellable.co/resources/subscribe-to-newsletter/

What happens when well-being takes a back seat? In this episode, we explore how rolling back wellness perks, tightening culture, and prolonged layoffs are impacting employee trust, morale, and performance. From Nike ending its annual “Wellness Week” to the rise of “forever layoffs” and new research on the power of purpose, we unpack what these shifts mean for today’s workplace, and how HR leaders can respond with clarity and care.Plus, don’t miss this week’s practical tip for assessing your culture signals and identifying what employees really need.For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠https://www.wellable.co/resources/subscribe-to-newsletter/

In this week’s episode of Wellable Weekly, we dive into the hidden gaps quietly eroding workplace well-being, and what employers can do to close them. We unpack why wellness isn’t always a shared priority across leadership levels, how chronic conditions like diabetes create additional strain in the workplace, and why rising healthcare costs are pushing small businesses to the brink. Plus, we explore how the rapid acceleration of AI is fueling growing pressure on employees to upskill, even as the cost of learning remains a major barrier. Tune in for actionable insights and a fresh perspective on creating a healthier, more resilient workplace.

Even the best workplace tools and policies can miss the mark. In this episode, we explore how technology and well-intentioned benefits can sometimes backfire, and what leaders can do to rebuild trust, foster equity, and truly support employee well-being.We’ll unpack why fitness apps often demotivate more than they inspire, how AI is fueling expense fraud, the growing equity gap in GLP-1 coverage, and the viral “five-minute rule” that sparked backlash against remote work micromanagement.Plus, stay tuned for this week’s Practical Well-Being Tip: a simple question that can uncover hidden friction points in your team’s daily work experience.Join us as we dive into what it really takes to build a culture of trust, care, and sustainable wellness at work.For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.wellable.co/resources/subscribe-to-newsletter/

This week, we look at new research on how different generations view promotions, dive into Microsoft Team’s new location-detecting feature, discuss the latest trends in workplace flexibility, and uncover how social media may be impacting employee performance.For more insights, subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.wellable.co/resources/subscribe-to-newsletter/