1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 In this episode of&amp;nbsp;The Stretch, host Kevin Fyock sits down with Brandon Werber, CEO and founder of Airvet, to explore a fundamental question for today’s workforce: when employees see pets as family, what does that mean for employee benefits? With 70% of U.S. households now including pets—and that number expected to climb—traditional benefit designs are falling behind how people actually live. Kevin and Brandon unpack the financial and emotional strain of unexpected veterinary emergencies, from thousand‑dollar ER bills to the lost productivity that comes when 90% of vet visits occur during core work hours. Brandon shares how 24/7 virtual veterinary care can remove cost and access barriers, making it easier for employees to get real‑time support without leaving work or going into debt. They compare legacy pet perks that struggle to get even 1% enrollment with comprehensive virtual care models that deliver double‑digit utilization and engagement that rivals core health benefits. Along the way, Kevin and Brandon dig into the realities of modern pet parenthood—covering everything from a live goat birth on Airvet, to the howl of a Beagle, to why legally recognized pet trusts are reshaping how we think about family. This episode is a candid, practical listen for HR and benefits leaders who want to build inclusive, high‑impact benefits that reflect the modern household, support whole‑person well‑being, and meet employees where they are—pets and all. The Stretch: Workforce health and benefits – expanded https://sites.libsyn.com/615620/site <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/42377830/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/204955000