How B Corp HoneyBee Helps Companies Prioritize Worker Financial Wellness—and Why That Is More Important Than Ever
When Ennie Lim got a divorce several years ago, she had no idea of the impact that it would have. Beyond her self-esteem and mental health, it also affected her financial health. Her credit was ruined, to the point where she couldn’t get approved for an apartment, and she had no idea what to do about it.
She packed up her bags from the Bay Area and moved back to live with her parents in Montreal. But she knew that was not where her story ended.
It took enduring a major financial crisis for Lim to recognize how empowering it can be to take control of your financial wellness, and she wanted to share that newfound knowledge widely.
That is why she and her partners co-founded HoneyBee, a Certified B Corporation that provides employers the tools that their employees need to gain personal financial control. Their programs include the opportunity to borrow no-interest loans (rather than having to ask for advances on their paychecks) and speak with financial counselors who can give them guidance to stay financially healthy.
In the time of this global pandemic, it has become even more clear that the majority of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Employers are having to furlough or lay off employees to maintain control of their business. And employees are having to become more understanding of the fact that their financial security and employment status could change at any moment.
It’s an opportunity for businesses to recognize the priority of worker financial health as well as physical and mental health. HoneyBee’s goal is to ensure that all employees have access to opportunities to gain (or regain) control of their financial health, and Lim and her team are proud to be a part of that solution.
Looking for more episodes on companies working to positively impact the global workforce? Listen to:
- #54 — Entrepreneurship as a Second Chance: The Secret to Cutting Recidivism in Half with Andrew Glazier, CEO & President of Defy Ventures
- #49 — A Refugee Workforce: The Secret to Solving the U.S. Labor Shortage with Chris Chancey, Founder & CEO of Amplio Recruiting
- #52 — Evolving the 9–5 Workday through Parent-Friendly Co-Working with Amanda Munday, Founder & CEO of The Workaround
Bonus material: Get the full show notes and extras for this episode.
Tune in to our chat with Lim for these key takeaways:
- The inspiration behind HoneyBee’s launch in 2016, and how the company has grow since then.
- The method and meaning behind HoneyBee’s work.
- HoneyBee’s company culture, which emphasizes authenticity and empathy.
- Why it’s important to prioritize financial wellness in the workplace, during this crisis and beyond.
Bonus material: Get the full show notes and extras for this episode.
B the Change gathers and shares the voices from within the movement of people using business as a force for good and the community of Certified B Corporations. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the nonprofit B Lab.
Building a Financially Healthy Workforce was originally published in B The Change on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
