95% of employers see a ROI from wellbeing, says Wellhub data

Wellbeing is not just a nice to have, in fact, it is the “bedrock of sustained success” for businesses.

By spending money on wellbeing, organizations are making a strategic investment into the company’s future performance.

That’s according to new research from Wellhub (formerly known as Gympass).

A survey of 2,000 HR leaders from 20 different industries across the world found that 95% saw positive returns on investment (ROI) on wellbeing.

This is up from 90% in 2023, plus over half (56%) saw at least a £2 return for every £1 spent on wellness at work.

Wellhub’s Return on Wellbeing report found that 99% experienced higher productivity – with 47% seeing a significant increase in employee efficiency – 98% saw reduced turnover, and 91% were able to cut the costs of healthcare benefits (up from 78% in 2023).

There were fewer sick days (89%), and 83% said that wellbeing was either very or extremely important to talent acquisition.

Importantly, Wellhub’s data identified that these benefits are not only for desk-based workers – in fact, when frontline organizations get wellbeing right, they reap even higher ROI!

All of this is good news in this challenging labor market where productivity, as well as attracting and retaining talent, are the top issues facing employers across the world.

Start at the top to create a culture of wellbeing

While doing something on wellbeing is better than doing nothing, there are many strategies to ensure the best return on investment for HR teams and their wider organizations.

According to Wellhub’s CEO and founder, Cesar Carvalho, “just offering a few point solutions doesn’t work.”, instead companies need to create “a work environment where employees feel supported to take care of their holistic health – and giving them the resources to do so”.

Wellhub’s report recommends that employers do not take a one-size-fits-all approach, and instead invest in a holistic approach to wellbeing – this is defined as where employees have access to four or more different types of support.

For instance, this could be across physical, financial and emotional wellbeing buckets and include things like free access to gyms, nutrition advice, financial wellbeing support, and then enhanced bereavement leave policies.

Wellhub’s data shows that 24% of companies who embrace holistic wellbeing (aka more than four offerings) see a return of 150% or more. That means if they invest $100,000 in workforce wellbeing, they will see a return of $250,000.

Of course, reaping these types of rewards is much easier said than done. Currently just 39% of HR said they have a holistic wellbeing approach, despite 85% knowing how important it is.

UNLEASH sat down with Wellhub’s CPO Livia Martini to get some exclusive insights into what HR leaders need to prioritize when setting up a wellbeing strategy that drives real business outcomes.

Martini shares: “The most interesting finding from the Return on Wellbeing report was how impactful C-suite involvement and buy-in is to the success of employee wellness programs.”

Therefore, her top tip to HR leaders is to “get the C-suite and leadership teams involved to set an example”.

“Employers lead by example, so it is crucial to have the company’s CEO and leadership involved and excited from the very beginning.

“I encourage HR Leaders to host launch events with their CEOs as wellness programs are rolled out and have them actively endorse the program in front of the whole company,” concludes Martini.

Wellhub’s data shows that when 30% or fewer executives participate in wellbeing programs, employee engagement sits at 44%. However, it skyrockets to 80% when 70% or more of the C-Suite get involved and role model good behaviours.

Let’s break the wellbeing taboo, and reap the financial rewards.