With economic storm clouds gathering, many U.S. companies are bracing for the possibility of a recession. Interest rates are high, consumer confidence is dipping, and CFOs across the country are tightening budgets.

When fear sets in, it’s common for businesses to hit pause on anything deemed “non-essential.” And all too often, that includes employee experience programs—wellness budgets, engagement initiatives, culture investments.

But here’s the truth: recessions don’t weaken culture—they reveal it.

History Has Already Taught Us

During my master’s program at the University of Tennessee, I studied business trends during the Great Depression. One insight stuck with me: the companies that thrived weren’t the ones that cut spending across the board. They were the ones that doubled down—especially on their people and their message.

They didn’t disappear. They showed up.

That principle still holds today. But instead of just ad dollars, the smartest investment now is employee care. Not the kind that’s distant or impersonal. The kind that meets people in their everyday, unpredictable, real-world lives.

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Why Traditional "Perks Plans" Don’t Cut It Anymore

In uncertain times, many companies default to short-term incentives—gift cards, lunches, or curated “perks” that sound nice on paper but have incredibly low engagement, are costly, and don’t create lasting value.

Let’s be honest:

• These programs often limit choice.
• They’re costly and hard to track.
• Engagement is low because they rarely match what employees actually need or want.
• And worst of all—they’re not personal.

In fact:

• Over 50% of employers admit their perks go underused (SHRM, 2022).
• Just 32% of employees are satisfied with their benefits (MetLife, 2023).
• And employee turnover can cost up to 2x a person’s annual salary (Gallup, 2021).

In times of economic uncertainty, that’s a risk companies can’t afford to ignore.

Real Fulfillment. Real Life.

One of our favorite Fufild stories came from a client with a simple, heartfelt wish.

She worked until 5 p.m. every day. Her son’s middle school basketball games started at 6. Between racing to the grocery store and getting things ready at home, she always missed the first half.

One day, she said:
“I wish I could see a full game just once.”

Through Fufild, she selected a grocery delivery service with her monthly points. The next week, the groceries were already home when they returned from the game.

For the first time, she watched every minute.
That’s not a perk. That’s fulfillment.

Care-First: The Recession-Proof Advantage

Fufild isn’t about gimmicks or giveaways. It’s a platform rooted in Care-First thinking—an approach that empowers employees with real choice, meaningful support, and day-to-day value.

We focus on four categories that affect employee wellbeing and engagement today:

• Enjoyment (entertainment, gaming, streaming, music)
• Convenience (grocery delivery & food, rideshare, lifestyle, AI & productivity)
• Wellness (mental health, fitness apps, mindfulness)
• Growth (career learning, certifications, personal development, hobbies)

This is how you make your workplace more resilient—by making your people’s lives easier, better, and more supported in real time.

Not a Perk. A Paradigm Shift.

When employees feel seen, valued, and fulfilled, they don’t just stay—they invest back into the culture. They weather hard times with you. They become your best advocates.

Recession-proofing your business doesn’t mean cutting care. It means redefining it.

Fufild makes it easy for companies to:

• Offer wide-reaching support with minimal cost.
• Track impact and engagement in real-time.
• Retain great people without guessing what they want.

Because what employees want isn’t more perks.
It’s more permission to live well—and more partnership in doing it.

What Now?

If a recession hits, the companies that lead will be the ones that cared before they had to.
If it doesn’t, you still win—because fulfillment is never wasted.

Let’s stop building cultures around survival. Let’s build them around support.
Let’s make work better—right now.

Recession-proof your team by starting with what matters most: their today.
And let Fufild help you do it.

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Ready to Build a Care-First Culture That Goes Beyond The Paycheck?

📥 BONUS: Get the Care-First Leadership Guide FREE

Want to build a workplace where employees thrive and stay? We’ve put together the Care-First Leadership Guide—a powerful, actionable resource to help you create a culture that boosts retention and engagement.

✅ Step-by-step strategies to implement a Care-First Culture
✅ Key employee retention statistics to inform your decisions
✅ A leadership checklist to ensure you’re building a workplace people love

📥 Get instant access! Just fill out the form below to download your free copy.

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Sources

1. SHRM (2022)
   More than 50% of employers say their perks are underutilized.
   Source: Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 2022 Employee Benefits Survey
   https://www.shrm.org
2. MetLife U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study (2023)
   Only 32% of employees are satisfied with their current benefits offerings.
   Source: MetLife 21st Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study, 2023
   https://www.metlife.com/employee-benefit-trends/
3. Gallup (2021)
   The cost of replacing an employee can be up to 2x their annual salary.
   Source: Gallup, "The True Cost of Employee Turnover," 2021
   https://www.gallup.com/workplace/247391/why-great-employees-leave.aspx
4. Historical Reference: The Great Depression Advertising Insight
   Companies that increased advertising spend during the Great Depression gained market share.
   Source: Forbes / Harvard Business Review insights on historical advertising during economic downturns
   Example summary: https://hbr.org/2009/04/how-to-market-in-a-downturn

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