Friends with Benefits
Friends with Benefits
Podcast Description
‘Friends with Benefits’ is the essential podcast for rewards and benefits leaders.
Hosted by Carl Chapman and David Duckworth from Ben, each episode brings together top minds in benefits and HR to unpack the latest trends shaping the world of benefits. Think AI, employee engagement, ROI, and more. Expect real talk with industry innovators and bold ideas you’ll want to steal.
If you’re building better benefits, this is the podcast your CPO wishes you’d listen to.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on the complexities of employee benefits, covering themes such as the integration of AI in HR, employee engagement strategies, and the return on investment of benefit programs. Episodes include discussions on topics like mental health investment, the impact of global equity on benefits, and practical strategies for creating personalized benefits offerings.

‘Friends with Benefits’ is the essential podcast for rewards and benefits leaders.
Hosted by Carl Chapman and David Duckworth from Ben, each episode brings together top minds in benefits and HR to unpack the latest trends shaping the world of benefits. Think AI, employee engagement, ROI, and more. Expect real talk with industry innovators and bold ideas you’ll want to steal.
If you’re building better benefits, this is the podcast your CPO wishes you’d listen to.
Fertility benefits aren’t “nice to have” anymore — they’re becoming a retention strategy.Aatish Pattani, Senior Director and Global Head of Rewards at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, joins Carl and David to unpack the rising cost of healthcare, why two in five employees would switch jobs for fertility support, and how global reward teams should be preparing for pay transparency.From medical inflation to recognition programmes to the AI hype cycle, this is a masterclass in pragmatic, data-driven reward leadership.About the GuestAatish Pattani, Senior Director and Global Head of Rewards at Ferring PharmaceuticalsAatish Pattani is a global reward leader with 17+ years’ experience across finance, media, technology, telecommunications and professional services. Now leading the Reward Centre of Excellence at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, he is responsible for shaping global reward strategy, challenging the status quo, and aligning benefits with business priorities.—SummaryAatish joins Carl and David for a wide-ranging conversation on what modern reward leadership really looks like inside a global pharmaceutical company.They explore the harsh reality of post-COVID medical inflation, why preventative healthcare still struggles to gain traction, and how employers are quietly reducing cover levels to manage rising costs .The conversation then turns to fertility — a workplace issue impacting one in six people, yet still under-supported by many employers. At Ferring, fertility support isn’t a tick-box exercise. It includes inclusive coverage, financial support, and up to 26 weeks’ leave — backed by leadership commitment and long-term thinking.They also dig into:– Why two out of five employees would leave their employer for fertility benefits- The coming wave of EU pay transparency and why “understanding your data” is non-negotiable- The risk of launching benefits you can’t sustain- Why recognition programmes matter more than ever- And Aatish’s hot take: AI isn’t the solution to everything.

Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.