Financial literacy remains a pressing challenge in the Philippines. A comprehensive global study ranked the country among the bottom 30 of 144 nations, with just 25% of Filipino adults demonstrating financial literacy. While this trend has held steady in recent years, the link between financial stress and reduced workplace productivity has become increasingly clearer. Recognizing these ongoing challenges, TELUS Digital Philippines has been taking proactive steps to ensure its team members not only survive but thrive, through comprehensive financial wellness programs.
Guided by insights from a recent internal survey, the company hosted “Pera Paraan” during National Financial Literacy Month, a financial wellness event designed to encourage smarter personal finance habits and better use of workplace benefits. Financial wellness advocates Charm De Leon and Ginelle Sequitin joined TELUS Digital Philippines leaders Ria Lopez and Michelle Trinidad in an interactive discussion that provided team members with practical tips for making better financial decisions.
Fostering financial empowerment across the organization
TELUS Digital Philippines’ internal survey, which gathered responses from over 1,200 team members, revealed promising foundations in financial confidence across the organization. A combined 63% of respondents demonstrated positive financial decision-making capability, with 35.7% feeling moderately confident and 27.3% expressing strong confidence in their financial choices. However, there’s still room for growth, particularly among Gen Z team members, where 20.5% indicated they could benefit from additional financial guidance—14.2% said they felt somewhat tentative about financial decisions and 6.3% expressed a desire for more comprehensive financial learning support.
“Financial resilience starts with small, consistent steps, and at TELUS Digital Philippines, we’re here to guide our team members through those first steps and beyond,” noted Ria Lopez, Director for Financial Planning and Analysis at TELUS Digital Philippines. “By combining smart personal financial habits with accessible benefits like our Savings Arrangement for Financial Empowerment program or SAFE, Early Wage Access or EWA, and financial counseling, among others, we’re giving our people the confidence and tools to thrive.”
The survey revealed that nearly half of respondents (49.8%) reported experiencing financial stress “from time to time” based on their financial literacy, signaling a sense of vulnerability when faced with unexpected events. This insight presents an opportunity for enhancing financial resilience through targeted education and support programs, empowering team members to better navigate both planned and unexpected financial situations.
Michelle Trinidad, Human Resources Director at TELUS Digital Philippines, sees this as a pivotal opportunity for positive change. “Even though the majority of our team members might not be experiencing acute financial distress, they’re not yet fully confident in their financial decision-making either. This is precisely where TELUS Digital Philippines can make a transformative difference,” Trinidad explains. “By hosting events and learning opportunities that ignite meaningful conversations about financial literacy and coupling these with our comprehensive suite of financial wellness programs, we’re sharing information and equipping our team members with practical, actionable strategies for long-term financial security.”
Shifting financial goals and habits
At TELUS Digital Philippines’ National Financial Literacy event, financial advisor Ginelle Sequitin emphasized that empowerment starts with accessibility. “It’s not just about budgets or spreadsheets,” she said. “It’s about making your money work for the life you want and using tools and habits that fit your lifestyle.”
The internal survey also highlighted debt management as a key area for financial education, especially among Gen Z employees. Recognizing this need, TELUS Digital Philippines leverages its Employee Assistance Program to offer professional debt management counseling. This service provides team members with personalized guidance and strategies, empowering them to create custom money plans that work for them. Charm De Leon, founder of Ready2AdultPH and a speaker at the event, highlighted the importance of understanding debt. “Knowing the difference between good and bad debt, how interest works, and how to manage credit wisely can completely change someone’s financial path,” she shared.
Maximizing benefits and perks for financial well-being
TELUS Digital Philippines offers an array of financial support programs tailored to the diverse needs and feedback of its team members. At the forefront of these initiatives is the Savings Arrangement for Financial Empowerment (SAFE) program, a comprehensive solution that combines savings, investment, retirement planning, and employer matching. This program caters to both financial novices and seasoned professionals, providing a robust platform for long-term financial growth. Complementing SAFE, team members also have access to HMO coverage with dependent benefits, exclusive merchant partnerships, earned wage access, discounted pharmacy access, educational assistance, among other related initiatives.
“We believe financial wellness is just as important as physical or mental health,” said Trinidad. “Our suite of financial support programs is not just a set of benefits; it’s a reflection of our commitment to our team members’ holistic well-being. We’re constantly evolving these offerings based on the needs and feedback we receive.”
By transforming survey insights and employee feedback into actionable strategies, TELUS Digital Philippines demonstrates a proactive approach to financial empowerment of its team members. The company pairs expert guidance with accessible benefits, showcasing that when organizations invest in their employees’ financial well-being, it creates a win-win situation, enhancing both personal lives and professional performance.
