Employee Benefits @ Programmed - Savings, wellbeing, and volunteering

Welcome to the first edition of Employee Benefits @ Programmed!

Whether you need a reminder of what's on offer or you're discovering Programmed employee benefits for the first time, we're here to keep you informed with this new, regular update series.

This month, we’re excited to highlight the following benefits available to Programmed employees:

• Employee Xtras – now with the brand-new Wellbeing Centre
• Volunteering Opportunities – get involved through our new Volunteer Guideline, just in time for Volunteer Week!

Employee Xtras - Discount Platform

Did you know that permanent Programmed employees have access to Employee Xtras?

Available across Australia and New Zealand, this platform gives eligible employees access to cashback and discount offers from a wide range of retailers, including Woolworths, JB Hi-Fi, Myer, Hoyts, Expedia, and more.

In 2024, Programmed employees spent $1.6 million through Employee Xtras, and since 2019, we’ve saved over $600,000! With the cost of living continuing to rise, this is a great opportunity to save on everyday essentials, such as groceries, and more.

Here’s what some of your colleagues are saying about it:

• "With increasing cost of living and a mortgage to pay off, it’s such an easy way to save money! Our employee xtras are way better than other employer’s employees extra, as it has wider range of retailers and bigger savings. Retailers include Airbnb, Ampol, Apple Store, Big W, Booking.com, BWS, Coles, Dan Murphy’s, HOYTS Cinemas, JB Hi-Fi, JD Sports, Kayo Sports, Kmart, Lululemon, Myer, R.M Williams, Rebel, The Good Guys, The Iconic, Ticketek, Ticketmaster, Uber eats, Webjet, Woolworths and many more!  All the savings could go to a holiday!" – Daniel Nguyen, Group Injury Management Advisor
  
  
• "Great incentive and easy way to save money on everyday items. It helps ease the burden of the increasing cost of living. It is also great that you can stack discounts, so even if the store is having a sale you can still get the further discount from the app on top of that sale price. It also has a wide range of retailers including big chain supermarkets and department stores to boutique brands, car hire, gyms etc." – Taylor Downes, Group Injury Management Advisor

If you’d like to find out more see below user guides, and if you’re interested, be sure to download the SmartSpending App to enjoy discounts on-the-go!

If you need help or assistance with any aspect of your account, please read the FAQs or contact the Reward Gateway support team via their 24/7 online chat service. You can access this via the "Help" section of the Employee Xtras platform.

http://www.employeextras.com.au/

http://www.employeextras.co.nz/ 

• Employee Xtras poster (Aus)
• Employee Xtras poster (NZ)

Employee Xtras new addition - Wellbeing Centre: Your Health and Wellness Hub

Alongside these savings, we’ve recently added the Wellbeing Centre to Employee Xtras! This new resource offers content and tools to help you improve your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, featuring four key pillars:

• Move: Yoga, breathing exercises, and workout ideas to stay active.
• Munch: Healthy recipes and meal planning tips.
• Money: Financial advice, budgeting tips, and sustainable living ideas.
• Mind: Mental health resources, mindfulness practices, and stress-relief tools.

Whether you’re looking for a new workout routine, healthy recipes, or tips on budgeting and financial planning, the Wellbeing Centre has something for everyone.

Volunteering at Programmed - Give back to the community!

We’re also excited to remind you about our new Volunteer Guideline, launched in December 2024. This program gives eligible employees the opportunity to engage in meaningful volunteer work, with full support from Programmed.

Key highlights of the Volunteer Guideline include:

• Two paid volunteer leave days per calendar year for eligible employees.
• The opportunity to participate in volunteer work aligned with your skills, interests, and availability.

With National Volunteer Week commencing this week (19 - 25 May 2025) in Australia and 15 -  21 June 2025 in New Zealand, this is the perfect time to think about volunteering as a team. Whether it’s supporting a local cause or contributing to community events, volunteering together can be a fun and rewarding experience. Let’s make a positive impact this year!

If you have any stories or photos of your team volunteering, we’d love to see them! With your permission, we’d like to share these across the business to celebrate our collective contributions. If you’re comfortable, please send them to the HR team at maintenancehr@programmed.com.au

We hope you find these updates helpful and that they inspire you to make the most of your employee benefits. Stay tuned for the next edition, and as always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the HR team at maintenancehr@programmed.com.au.

Kind regards,
 
Mark Rademaker
Head of HR & Corporate Services