Sonder in the media

Aug 26, 2023

McDonald’s rolls out new wellbeing app to support its 115,000 workers.

McDonald’s has taken a new tech approach to providing support for its mainly young staff by partnering with Sonder, with surprising results. More than 10,000 McDonalds employees have signed up to the app, a figure that’s growing by 30 per cent each month.

Emma Napoli-Hala, chief people officer at McDonald’s Australia, said: “We are one of the largest employers of young people in Australia, which means we have a big responsibility to ensure our crew are supported whenever, wherever, and however they need.”

Aug 22, 2023

5 steps to foster a safe workplace after trauma

In today’s fast-paced environment, the importance of a safe and supportive workplace cannot be overstated. A positive work environment not only enhances productivity but also cultivates creativity and innovation.

However, sadly, workers are still subject to aggression at work. Our data shows police were involved in 23% of our customers’ critical incidents in the period April-June 2023 – an increase of 35% from the previous quarter.

Aug 5, 2023

Increase in police being called to protect retail workers

Alarming figures have revealed the number of cops being called to shops, with assaults on retailer workers emerging as the most common reason. Other reasons included attempted suicide by a customer, attempted suicide by a staff member, customer death on site, and armed robbery.

Sonder chief executive Craig Cowdrey said cost-of-living concerns, and social media challenges had contributed to the rise in customer aggression.

Jun 29, 2023

Rise in safety-related critical incidents

Sonder's latest trends report shows a 54 per cent increase in the percentage of critical incidents related primarily to safety. The majority of these incidents related to mental health, but 40 per cent were primarily concerned with physical safety.

Concerningly, the percentage of work-related "police incidents" reported by Sonder members nearly doubled, rising from 15 to 27 per cent of all critical incidents, it says.

Mar 31, 2023

Navigating the rules: psychological health and safety

Recent global developments in the work health and safety space have placed workplace mental health firmly on the international agenda for organisational leaders at all levels.

Together with several legislative reforms, these developments also add to the focus on employers to identify and manage workplace psychosocial hazards, writes Craig Cowdrey, co-founder and CEO of employee wellbeing company Sonder.

Mar 7, 2023

Sonder, Active Care, and Gen Z

Vivaldi spoke with Chris Marr, Sonder’s Chief Commercial Officer, about building a care network, meeting the demands of Gen Z, and the limitations of bots in addressing human challenges.

“Gen Z are going to continue to demand that services are accessible to them on their own device on their own time… You won’t be successful without offering a world class experience because there’s just no patience for anything less.”

Feb 22, 2023

Curb the poor wellbeing “ripple effect”

Poor worker wellbeing costs Australian businesses billions of dollars in absenteeism, presenteeism, turnover, workers' compensation and lost productivity.

But employers can take steps to minimise this "ripple effect", including providing meaningful leadership support and helping employees improve their wellbeing, according to Craig Cowdrey, the CEO and co-founder of wellbeing and safety company Sonder.

Feb 17, 2023

The most common startup perks offered to employees revealed

“While media stories often describe parties, catered lunches, and table tennis, the value of these perks to startups is greatly overstated and can even send a negative message to employees.

So much of that has been recognised as not particularly relevant or determinative in an employee’s choice,” Craig Cowdrey, CEO of student and employee care company Sonder, said in the newly-released Amazon Web Services (AWS) research report.

Feb 16, 2023

Australian startups prioritising strong culture and work-life balance

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has released the report, “How startups create a culture of possibilities,” prepared by research consulting firm Lonergan Research and commissioned by AWS.

Craig Cowdrey, co-founder and CEO of workplace wellbeing startup, Sonder, says that workers have grown sceptical of “work perks” often synonymous with startup culture, especially when they are prioritised over more meaningful benefits.

Feb 8, 2023

Chinese students are at risk

“Chinese students who were forced to uproot urgently will face a real risk to their wellbeing and safety when arriving in Australia,” said Sonder’s Craig Cowdrey in a letter to the editor about the Chinese study ban.

“Chinese students need their institutions and local communities to step up to help them secure safe and affordable housing, and provide them with essential wellbeing support so they don’t fall through the cracks.”

Jan 23, 2023

Wellbeing can hinge on organisational change

Managers must be mindful of the impact of organisational change, says a new report from Sonder, based on data from 10,000+ member cases from July to September.

“Where organisational change was identified as one of the presenting factors, more than 80 per cent of these cases had four or more other conditions present, and more than half of the cases had five or more other conditions present," Sonder’s Quarterly trends report says.

Jan 18, 2023

Why Family and Domestic Violence is a workplace issue

Family and domestic violence (FDV) is often perceived as a personal issue, but it’s also a workplace issue.

An office space can help victims stay out of the home during the day and provide a means to financial security and freedom to leave an abusive household.

Work can also become a space to find allies and provide employees experiencing FDV with the resources that support their needs.

Managers can play a key role. Read how…

Dec 29, 2022

Leaders prioritising student wellbeing

“Beneath the hum of student resurgence, student wellbeing is still a concern, particularly for international students”.

The PIE news published a story authored by our own Craig Cowdrey (CEO, Sonder) which outlines the five roles of education leaders who prioritise student wellbeing to enable the best possible learning environment. This is a particularly important topic as international students return to campus in 2023.

Dec 17, 2022

Companies drop the ‘tick the box’ approach to health and safety

The Australian’s Helen Trinca interviewed our CEO Craig Cowdrey about our "first quarterly report analysing more than 10,000 of [our] most recent cases".

Sonder "is carving out a new market, going beyond mental health assistance for employees to a 24/7 [tech-enabled] service that allows workers to access [safety alerts and] specialist [chat] advice on issues that can range from a sick baby to insomnia to chest pains at midnight."

Nov 21, 2022

Australia: student mental wellbeing a concern, despite sector resurgence

The PIE News reported that Australia is now a close second in international student preference at 49 per cent compared to Canada’s 52 per cent, but that student mental health and wellbeing remains a major concern.

Sonder’s Rodney Davis, commented, “The new style of university executive is… an agent of change who collaboratively and proactively co-architects a healthier institution – and a better world.”

Nov 9, 2022

Debunking five myths of employee wellbeing

Dr Jamie Phillips (Medical Director, Sonder) joined host Jane Sheridan (Southern Regional Manager, Rest) and Chris Healey (General Manager, Group Claims, TAL Australia) to debunk five myths of employee wellbeing that are likely costing organisations time and money.

The webinar discusses statistics, insights, and evidence-based strategies to help organisations build a culture of positive employee wellbeing.

Nov 4, 2022

Managing psychosocial hazards at work

Recent legislation reforms and developments in international WHS guidance have established workplace mental health as a global priority, reports HR Leader.

Sonder’s CEO Craig Cowdrey said that these developments also place a significant impetus on employers to identify and manage workplace psychosocial hazards.

“To help organisations… Sonder has recently released an update to its ISO 45003 guide to capture recent reforms.”

Oct 25, 2022

Why psychosocial safety should be front of mind

Taking a systemic and evidence-based approach toward preventing and managing psychosocial risks at work is good for business, reports Safe to Work.

“Forward-thinking employers recognise that their employees expect and deserve greater control of their working environment and conditions. They are actively working with their team members to co-create and promote a mentally healthy workplace culture,” said Sonder’s CEO, Craig Cowdrey.

Oct 6, 2022

Addressing mental health at work

Addressing mental health at work requires a commitment to create change both at the personal level and the leadership level, reports the Harvard Business Review.

Referencing Sonder’s CEO Craig Cowdrey, HBR suggests that when people in positions of power speak up about their mental wellbeing, it makes it safer for their teams to do the same.

“If you’re a manager, you have the power to impact your work culture in a positive way.”

Sep 27, 2022

Sonder named a LinkedIn Top Startup

We’re proud to have made LinkedIn’s Top Startups 2022 list, based on unique LinkedIn data that measures four pillars: employment growth; engagement; job interest; and attraction of top talent.

The list is a “resource to find the startups to pay attention to right now, featuring 25 Australian companies that are rising to the challenges of the moment and continuing to innovate and gain attention in 2022,” said LinkedIn.

Sep 16, 2022

Sonder wins Australian Good Design Award

We were thrilled to receive a prestigious Good Design Award Winner Accolade in the Service Design category in recognition of our outstanding design and innovation.

The 2022 awards attracted high-quality design projects from Australia and around the world. The Good Design Awards Jury commented on Sonder’s entry, “An impressive holistic and highly timely service support to organisations when the wellbeing of people matters more than ever.”

Sep 16, 2022

Workplace wellness startup Sonder banks $35 million Series B

Startup Daily, an online media platform that covers the startup technology ecosystem, has featured our Series B funding announcement.

We are excited to welcome new investors to the Sonder family, including SEEK Investments. Managing director Damien Wodak said: “Sonder’s unique, holistic proposition helps organisations reimagine wellbeing support to drive healthier, happier, and more productive employees and students.”

Sep 15, 2022

Sonder raises AU$35m to accelerate growth

We’re proud to announce in the AFR today that we have secured AU$35 million in Series B funding to accelerate our growth.

Blackbird Ventures led the oversubscribed round, with participation from new investors (including SEEK Investments and SecondQuarter Ventures), as well as existing investors.

Alongside Blackbird’s investment, we welcome Niki Scevak, Blackbird’s partner and co-founder, to Sonder’s Board.

Sep 14, 2022

The rise of digital mental health solutions

Looking after the wellbeing of employees is now firmly on the boardroom agenda, reports PwC Australia’s Digital Pulse.

Sonder’s co-founder and CCO Christopher Marr said that supporting the wellbeing and safety of employees makes good sense.

“Combining technology with human (clinical) support can provide 10 to 15 times higher engagement levels, and drive meaningful improvements in employee productivity, absenteeism, and retention.”

Sep 5, 2022

Updated ISO 45003 guide reflects WHS reforms

OHS Alert, a premium news site for workplace safety and workers’ compensation practitioners, has featured Sonder’s updated guide: “A simple overview of ISO 45003”.

Our free overview of the international Standard for protecting workers' psychological health has been updated to capture recent reforms, including the introduction of clauses on controlling psychosocial risks in the national model WHS Regulations.

Sep 5, 2022

Sonder expands leadership team

Sonder has appointed Mindy Eiermann (ex Intuit) as Chief Product Officer and Brad Newton (ex DocuSign) as Chief Sales Officer, reports iTWire.

"We are delighted to welcome Mindy and Brad… [who] each bring extensive leadership experience from technology companies at scale, which we are excited to leverage as we pursue our vision of providing global access to… safety, medical, and mental health support," said CEO Craig Cowdrey.

Aug 28, 2022

Dr Jamie Phillips' great Australian life

Sonder’s Medical Director Dr Jamie Phillips spoke with 3AW’s Great Australian Lives about his journey in joining Sonder, which he describes as a “remarkable” and “transformative” company.

“I knew we could open the discussion wider… we need to transform the way healthcare is accessed, delivered and funded.”

During this insightful interview, Dr Phillips also reflects on his fascinating career and discusses the connection between financial and workplace wellbeing.

Aug 25, 2022

Managers, you can be agents of change for wellbeing

Whether you’re a new or a seasoned manager, you have the power to advocate for your employees' wellbeing at work, says Sonder’s CEO Craig Cowdrey in his Harvard Business Review article about how managers can take on five different roles to become an agent of change at work.

Mastering these five roles may seem difficult at first, but building a safe, trusting, and supportive work culture will reap more rewards in the long term.

Jul 19, 2022

The five roles of effective change agents

“Monumental workforce and societal shifts mean today’s leaders are expected to assume a stronger voice as well as a more active role in instigating meaningful change,” reports SmartCompany.

“This shift in expectations has pushed leaders to prioritise supporting the psychological and physical wellbeing of their team members. It’s also forced leaders to reassess their responsibilities and expand their priorities,” said Craig Cowdrey.

Jul 11, 2022

CEOs must become agents of change for wellbeing

“According to Sonder's Agents of Change research, the leaders best positioned to holistically support employees' wellbeing are embracers, investigators, challengers, integrators, and advocators,” reports HR Daily.

“But these roles are all interconnected, and a leader can't drive the organisational change that is required to deliver healthier, happier, and more productive employees without embodying all five,” said Craig Cowdrey.

Jul 4, 2022

AeroPM and Sonder join forces to support employee wellbeing

"We are delighted to join Sonder and be their launch customer into Defence," AeroPM’s CEO, Emily Frizell told Australian Defence Magazine.

"Our staff are second-to-none and they deserve the very best. Partnering with a company that equally understands how to deliver excellence is important to us; the fact that they represent another Australian veteran success story makes it even better.”

Jul 1, 2022

Student health and safety concerns becoming more complex

Student safety and wellbeing is becoming a first-order consideration for educators. Software company ReadyTech spoke with Sonder about the issues that educators should be aware of, and ways that higher education providers can elevate their safety and wellbeing services.

“The traditional ways people engage in help-seeking have changed. We now need to think about putting the student at the centre and providing holistic support,” said Robert Chasse.

Jun 8, 2022

Myth-busting workplace trauma

“Traditionally, psychologists or counsellors would be sent to workplaces to support employees who are feeling distressed. Psychologists would then help each employee to unpack the incident that is causing their distress,” said Louise Butler.

“However, a growing body of evidence suggests psychological debriefing after traumatic events may be doing more harm than good,” reports the NSCA Foundation’s National Safety magazine.

May 27, 2022

DiJones reimagines organisational wellbeing and safety with Sonder partnership

“We are looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our people and their families,” said DiJones CEO, Dean Mackie.

“Every person deserves wellbeing support. Anytime. Anywhere. That’s why we are rolling out Sonder companywide for our whole team and their families too. We don’t look at our staff in isolation we look at their whole lives, their wants, needs and personal dynamics which supports our vision to give power to your purpose.”

May 23, 2022

Honan Insurance interviews Sonder

“When we started, we were told that our promise to get in-person responders to the scene of critical incidents within 20 minutes was impossible. But this only fuelled our ambition.

We quickly proved that we could tap into our networks, and build new networks… (including military, ambulance, police, firefighters, and now social workers, medical clinicians, and psychologists) to successfully deliver on this ambitious promise.”

May 16, 2022

Employee distress morphing into workplace aggression

“Comparing previous years' anecdotal reports from clients with quantitative data from a recent Sonder study – which found that 62% of employees have experienced some form of aggression at work – Dr Jamie Phillips says aggression is "definitely up".

“I think it's because there is less tolerance now for mistakes. We've all been locked down, forced to use different ways of interacting, socialising, shopping and living.”

May 13, 2022

Aggression continues to be a major WHS issue

Sonder's medical director Dr Jamie Phillips, says workplace leaders must "take personal ownership".

"It is imperative for organisational leaders to embrace their responsibility for wellbeing and have the courage to break existing conventions, challenge dogma and look at things through an evidence-based lens if they are to effect meaningful change and create healthier and more resilient organisations," he says.

May 5, 2022

Expert advice on how you can create a healthy business culture

“Many studies show a direct link between the health and wellbeing of a workforce and a company’s productivity. For example, a Safe Work Australia report found that, while Australians take an average of five days of sick leave a year, those experiencing mental health issues are absent for longer – between two and 13 extra days a year,” said David Watson, Sonder’s Head of Enterprise, in his recent Woolworths at Work feature.

Apr 22, 2022

Sonder co-founders: UNSW top 20 alumni kicking serious goals

Co-founders Christopher Marr and Peter Burnheim were featured in the Daily Telegraph as part of a University of NSW feature showcasing their top twenty trailblazing alumni.

We are proud to have our co-founders represented alongside other amazing entrepreneurs in businesses as diverse as climate change, skin care, Parkinson’s research, payment platforms, NASA projects, a shipping solution, and an online marketplace.

Apr 19, 2022

Woolies call out Sonder on the Today show

On Nine’s Today show, Roseann Seery from Woolworths Group calls out Sonder’s support of a workforce in distress.

"Thankfully, Woolworths has a really great support network through Sonder, which is an app that we have 24/7 access to, and that provides the ability to talk to somebody if we're feeling a little down, or to get the right information so that we could deliver some helpful tips to our team, or to our family and friends..."

Apr 15, 2022

Workplace aggression and lack of support

An exclusive in The Australian today reported some surprising statistics from Sonder’s latest research. 62 per cent of employees have experienced aggression from customers; 44 per cent from colleagues; and 35 per cent from managers.

Disappointingly, employees reported receiving no workplace support after experiencing aggressive behaviour by their customers (42 per cent), colleagues (41 per cent), or their managers (48 per cent).

Apr 1, 2022

Five employee wellbeing myths to avoid

Despite an increased focus on staff wellbeing programs to support workers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, not all wellness strategies are worthwhile, reports New Zealand’s Industrial Safety News.

Mar 23, 2022

Woolworths partners with Sonder to support flood-affected teams

“We are deeply appreciative of our team members during this time, whether in our stores, distribution centres, online hubs or out making deliveries.”

“To support our teams we have partnered with Sonder who can issue emergency updates and alerts to team members with the app in impacted areas. They are also able to provide emergency assistance to team members needing help,” said Woolworths CEO, Brad Banducci.

Mar 8, 2022

Debunking the wellbeing measurement myth

Organisations “have not always clearly determined their wellbeing parameters, measurable attributes, and leading and lagging indicators - so it’s [been] difficult to know how to measure wellbeing,” says Dr Jamie Phillips, Medical Director and Head of Member Support at Sonder.

They have “not always empowered their HR teams with the budget, digital tools and staff allocation… for effective measurement.”

Mar 4, 2022

Wellbeing myths that may be harming rather than helping

"The pandemic has fundamentally changed how employees work. Faced with mass departures and disengaged staff, it’s little wonder Australian companies are seeking innovative wellbeing initiatives in an attempt to attract, retain and get the best out of their employees. Yet, not all wellbeing initiatives are worthwhile. Some strategies could harm your company in the long term," says Sonder’s CEO, Craig Cowdrey.

Feb 10, 2022

ACHS recognition: first technology company accredited to EQuIP6

Sonder was proud to be featured in the member spotlight for The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS). As the first technology company to become accredited to their EQuIP6 Standards, we are thrilled to achieve this recognition and sit alongside some of the most advanced healthcare institutions in Australia.

ACHS has guided us on our journey of continuous improvement to ensure that we understand how to always be better.

Jan 24, 2022

Beware burnout "cure" and other work wellbeing myths

OHS Alert, the premium news site for workplace safety and workers’ compensation practitioners, today featured Sonder’s evidence-based report, “5 myths of employee wellbeing”.

Our deep-dive report helps business leaders distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to employee wellbeing and strategies for long-term resilience, if they are developing an evidence-based strategy for organisational resilience.

Dec 31, 2021

Customer hostility: our frontline retail workforces under fire

“Retail workers are in the firing line for frustration as COVID-weary shoppers take out their anger,” as research commissioned by Sonder found that too many retail workers are experiencing customer aggression.

“These numbers unfortunately do not shock us, as we ­receive requests for assistance directly from retail staff far too often. This has included acts of physical and verbal abuse and sexual harassment.” says Craig Cowdrey.

“These numbers unfortunately do not shock us, as we ­receive requests for assistance directly from retail staff far too often.” says Craig Cowdrey said.

Nov 24, 2021

PwC Tech Forum: fast growing tech companies

Sonder’s co-founder and CCO, Christopher Marr, was delighted to join PwC, Go1 and the Tech Council of Australia to share Sonder's evolution from a tech startup to a tech-enabled, healthcare company - now supporting almost half a million people across 90 countries.

Nov 16, 2021

Google’s Digital Future Initiative

What an exciting day for Australia's tech industry, with Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, announcing a $1b investment in Australia's digital future! We're proud that Sonder's impact was called out in this important announcement:

“Australian startups are providing important digital services, like Sonder, which offers mental health and safety support to workers around the clock."

Nov 1, 2021

Rethinking workplace mental health and wellbeing

Sonder’s new report with PwC Australia was featured today in The Australian: “Workplace mental health programs are no longer fit for purpose with psychological conditions due to the Covid-19 pandemic exceeding $20bn a year of lost productivity.”

Oct 21, 2021

Fear and Greed podcast: interview with Sonder’s CEO.

According to Fear and Greed, “There aren’t many startups that can say they are making a meaningful difference to the lives of their customers. Sonder is one of those.”

Listen to the interview with co-founder and CEO Craig Cowdrey as he explains Sonder’s wellbeing and safety solution.

Oct 13, 2021

Most innovative technology company

We are excited to win the technology category for the prestigious AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies list 2021. This award is a testament to an outstanding team committed to the higher purpose of providing easier access to medical, safety, and mental health support.

Oct 13, 2021

"Company to watch" award

We are grateful to have won today the “Company to watch” award in the Australian Growth Company Awards. “The judges were impressed by Sonder’s unique and fast-growing platform that demonstrates exceptional innovation and resiliency in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Sep 1, 2021

Employment Hero webinar: Organisational wellbeing and safety

Sonder’s Chris Marr and Dr Jamie Phillips joined Ray Jaramis, Head of Wellness at Employment Hero, to talk through all things organisational wellbeing and safety - an important topic as we deal with the stress and uncertainty of lockdowns and working from home.

Aug 30, 2021

“One to watch” according to Interbrand’s 2021 break-through brands

Sonder is proud to be listed as a “one to watch” - a brand that is changing the game. We agree - the services that employers need to provide their people are rapidly changing. And Sonder is stepping up with a unique solution for organisational wellbeing and safety support.

Aug 23, 2021

Sonder supports hospitality staff

With many in the hospitality industry feeling the brunt of the pandemic, Albury's SS&A has recently deployed Sonder to provide 24/7 wellbeing support for their staff. "We recognised that we needed to provide our staff with an innovative and holistic system, not just another EAP" quoted Gerard Darmody, CEO.

Aug 11, 2021

Sonder is proud to be a launch member of the Technology Council of Australia

Sonder shares the Tech Council’s vision for a prosperous and thriving Australia which harnesses the power of technology. The tech industry is critical to our economy - today and in the future, and we look forward to working together to help shape Australia’s digital future.

Jul 13, 2021

NSW Government announce health support for people in isolation

The NSW Government has announced their partnership with Sonder, as part of a mental health support package for people in mandatory isolation. Sonder will provide around the clock wellbeing and mental health support, at the touch of a button.

Jul 12, 2021

Healthy heads in trucks & sheds

Brad Banducci, Woolworths Group CEO, shares how Sonder has transformed the way staff seek support, for themselves and their families. With 24/7 help available for any issue they face, staff describe Sonder as “an angel in your pocket”.

Jun 7, 2021

Three former public servants raise $16m

Founded in 2017 by former lawyer turned diplomat Craig Cowdrey and former Australian army officers Chris Marr and Peter Burnheim, the company combines technology with real-time responders to provide care to company employees in need.

Nov 4, 2020

Launch of the Gidget perinatal support centre

To launch the Gidget Perinatal Support Centre: Powered by Sonder, we hosted The Hon. Bronnie Taylor, MLC alongside Gidget Foundation CEO Arabella Gibson. Sonder is proud to be partnered with Gidget - providing the right perinatal support, at the right time.

Mar 24, 2020

The story of Sonder’s creation

In this episode of The Mentor Podcast, host Mark Bouris asks Sonder Co-founder, Christopher Marr, why purpose was such a strong motivator for the business and how Sonder is a disruptor with a conscience.