Lit Neo, founder of the corporate wellness firm Tongle, argues that Malaysian employers must consider the return on investment (ROI) when implementing HRD Corp claimable mental health programmes. Speaking on September 24, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, she noted that even the most comprehensive wellness initiatives can be ineffective if employees do not utilize them. Many traditional Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) face this challenge, often costing companies significantly while going unused.
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Tongle has demonstrated to its clients the impact of effective engagement. With participation rates reaching as high as 78%, companies such as BMW Group Malaysia, Nestlé Malaysia, and Sheraton have opted for repeat wellness programmes rather than one-off offerings, showcasing the importance of continuous support.
Lit Neo emphasized that mental health challenges do not pause during work hours and affect various aspects of job performance, including concentration and decision-making. As such, mental health support is becoming a key factor for employees when evaluating potential employers, linking well-being to both recruitment and retention strategies.
The effectiveness of workplace wellness benefits hinges on employee usage, which is determined by visibility, trust, and the simplicity of access. Many wellness budgets fail because they do not facilitate actual engagement, according to Lit Neo.
Tongle’s Human-First Intelligence Platform addresses this issue by tracking various metrics, including employee participation and anonymized wellness analytics, providing HR departments with a comprehensive overview of engagement and its impact. This platform transforms the question of “what benefits are available?” into measurable outcomes regarding employee well-being.
While Tongle acknowledges that financial compensation, career growth, and leadership also contribute to employee retention, it highlights that effective mental health programmes should be an integral part of an organization’s overall strategy.
Lit Neo stated, “Saying wellbeing matters isn't enough. We have to show what happens when people actually engage with it.” This emphasizes Tongle's commitment to demonstrating the tangible benefits of their offerings.
Tongle, a certified social enterprise, has expanded its services to over 250,000 users across Asia Pacific, and its corporate wellness programmes are claimable through HRD Corp, Malaysia's Human Resource Development Corporation.