Why employee support matters during back-to-school season

Last year, around 27 million students in the Philippines returned to school, signaling higher spending on tuition, school supplies, transportation, and daily baon. For many employees, this means stretching their income for their loved ones—be it their own kids or the relatives they support. 

With inflation averaging 3.9 percent in early 2026 and climbing up to 7.2 percent in April alone, rising costs continue to affect households. This is why going beyond standard compensation packages help employees feel valued during financially demanding seasons like this one.

Making support easier with digital gifting

The most effective employee support is simple, flexible, and relevant.

Digital solutions like Pluxee Gift codes allow companies to provide targeted assistance minus the hassle of physical distribution. These codes can be customized based on the program or budget, making it easy to adapt to different employee needs.

Here’s how your company can help with our partner merchants

Provide back-to-school allowances

By offering back-to-school allowances, you help ease the burden of immediate school-related expenses so your employees can focus on what matters most: preparing their children for a fresh start.

More than just financial support, flexibility makes the benefit truly meaningful. Employees can choose what they need and where they need it—whether it’s shopping for uniforms from SM Store or buying school shoes at Robinsons Department Store. This kind of choice turns a simple allowance into a practical, employee-centric benefit that adapts to real-life needs.

Think long-term

Back-to-school support shouldn’t stop at the basics—it’s an opportunity to invest in benefits that create lasting value. By approaching it as a year-round strategy rather than a one-time expense, companies can show a deeper level of care for the evolving needs of their employees and their families.

This means enabling choices that go beyond immediate necessities and into quality, durability, and long-term use. For instance, giving employees access to trusted brands like Bratpack or Pacsafe allows them to invest in well-made, long-lasting bags that can withstand daily use throughout the school year and beyond.

When benefits are designed with longevity in mind, they don’t just meet a moment; they reflect thoughtful support that employees can rely on over time.

Pro tip: Extend your impact through CSR

As you support your employees with timely, flexible, and long-term back-to-school benefits, there’s also an opportunity to create impact beyond your organization. Back-to-school season can be a powerful moment to strengthen your CSR initiatives by extending the same sense of care to the communities you serve.

For companies with scholarship programs, this is the perfect time to deepen engagement with your scholars in practical ways. Providing access to essentials—whether it’s school supplies from National Bookstore or everyday needs from Gaisano Department Store—helps ensure that students start the school year equipped, confident, and ready to succeed.

When your back-to-school efforts go beyond internal benefits and into community support, they reinforce what your brand stands for: real, human-centric care that uplifts not just employees, but the wider ecosystem around them.

Final thoughts

What employees take to heart and treasure are the companies that make life easier when it matters most. Back-to-school season is one of those moments.

When businesses show genuine care for their employees’ realities outside of work, they build stronger trust and loyalty. Support does not have to be extravagant; it just needs to be relevant. With flexible digital gifting, Pluxee helps turn everyday support into meaningful employee experiences.

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