Tendo by Tonik Is at the Center of the Shift
Employee retention has become one of the biggest challenges facing the Philippine BPO industry today. With the sector now recording the highest attrition rates in Southeast Asia, companies are being pushed to rethink how they support their workforce—especially those working shifting schedules and long hours.
More employers are beginning to look beyond traditional incentives and toward something more fundamental: financial stability.
This shift is becoming increasingly visible as Tendo by Tonik continues to expand its footprint across the country’s largest BPO organizations. The employee financial wellness platform has recently partnered with Foundever and iQor, two of the world’s biggest customer experience firms. These new collaborations add to Tendo’s existing partnerships with Concentrix, the Philippines’ largest private employer, and Sutherland, further strengthening its position as the country’s most widely adopted financial wellness platform for employers.
Today, Tendo supports nearly one million employees nationwide, spanning the BPO and manufacturing sectors. Through a single digital platform, employees gain access to salary-linked loans, high-yield savings, free insurance coverage, and financial education—tools designed to reduce day-to-day financial pressure and help workers build longer-term security.
Why financial wellness is becoming a business priority
For industries operating around the clock, workforce volatility has become the norm. While often unseen, financial stress has increasingly been linked to absenteeism, disengagement, and early resignations—issues that directly affect productivity and service quality.
Because of this, many employers are now treating financial wellness not as an optional benefit, but as part of the company’s core infrastructure.
“Financial wellness is no longer a nice-to-have,” said Mike Singh, CEO of Tendo. “It’s a fundamental part of what modern employees expect from their employer. The decisions by Foundever and iQor reflect a broader shift in the BPO industry toward scalable, digital-first solutions that can measurably improve employee resilience.”
According to Mark Macalintal, VP of Sales at Tendo, this shift is happening quickly, especially among large organizations.
“Through our partnerships with some of the biggest BPOs—including many of the top 10 players—we’re seeing a clear change in how companies approach talent,” he shared. “Those who act early are better positioned to attract and retain employees, while others may soon feel pressure to catch up.”
Embedding financial support into the employee experience
For Foundever Philippines, the partnership strengthens its long-term people strategy.
Jennifer Vargas, HR Director at Foundever Philippines, explained that financial wellness is now a key pillar under the company’s Thrive program.
“Our new partnership with Tendo is a vital step in strengthening our financial wellness initiatives,” she said. “This collaboration allows us to deliver programs directly to our employees using Tendo’s expertise and genuine support. Their approach helps us meet our people at every stage of their financial journey and guide them toward healthier, more sustainable habits.”
At iQor, early feedback from employees has already been positive.
“We recently launched our partnership with Tendo by Tonik, and it has already had a remarkable impact,” shared Jude Mosquito, Philippines Benefits Lead at iQor. “From their CEO to every member of the team, they’re approachable and open to ideas that improve engagement for all iQorians. Their energy reflects the quality of service they provide, and we look forward to building a strong, lasting partnership.”
Sutherland: measurable results from long-term adoption
One of the strongest examples of Tendo’s impact can be seen in its long-standing partnership with Sutherland.
Internally known as the Sutherland eWallet, the program has become deeply integrated into the company’s employee experience.
Grace Opiala, Director of Total Rewards at Sutherland, shared how quickly employees embraced the platform when it was introduced.
“When we launched with Mike and the team, employees were immediately appreciative,” she said. “There’s no longer a need to go outside the company or approach other lenders. Financial support is right at their fingertips.”
Over time, the partnership expanded beyond short-term assistance.
“It’s not just about cash advances,” Opiala explained. “It includes savings, rewards, and free financial webinars. This benefit is now part of our onboarding and hiring strategy and consistently ranks high in our employee satisfaction surveys.”
The impact has also been measurable.
According to Bernice Garcia, Associate VP for HR at Sutherland, the results were clear within months.
“Our net promoter score increased, attrition went down, and productivity improved,” she said. “Within six months, more than 70 percent of employees were using Tendo. Over half of our new hires now come through employee referrals—driven largely by satisfaction with this benefit.”
She added that before Tendo, employees often turned to the company directly for financial help.
“Now they have a trusted partner that gives them control over their finances. Many have avoided payday lenders, reduced stress, and gained real financial confidence. Tendo has earned that trust.”
Raising the standard for workplace financial wellness
As companies begin to recognize financial stress as a systemic workforce risk rather than a personal issue, solutions like Tendo are setting a new standard for how employee wellness is delivered at scale.
With rapid B2B expansion, near-total employer retention, and measurable improvements in engagement and productivity, Tendo’s approach is increasingly being viewed as a model for sustainable people strategies—especially in industries where stability, focus, and long-term retention matter most.
