Too often we laser focus on the end result and forget about the employees driving those results in the first place. Thriving employees lift the bottom line because appropriate wellness is profitable.

We see this in our own data at Wellhub where we surveyed more than 2,000 HR leaders for our second annual Return on Wellbeing report. 95% of those tracking the return on investment of their wellbeing programmes see positive returns, and over half (56%) get more than £2 for every £1 invested. These returns are generated by improvements in crucial workplace operations, such as talent acquisition and retention.

Building a Culture of Holistic Wellbeing

One important requirement for achieving these returns is building a holistic wellbeing culture. There are three reasons this is the case:

1. Holistic programmes support the multidimensional nature of wellbeing. Wellness is not one thing – sleeping well, eating well, moving well, having good relationships, feeling self-confident, and so much more are all part of your wellbeing.
2. Holistic programmes are inherently more dynamic. They have more options and support more aspects of wellbeing than one-off benefits or programs. Giving employees the power of choice makes it easier to engage with the benefits, which is critical to maximising the ROI of wellness. A programme’s financial returns scale with its participation rates.
3. Having a culture of wellness drives returns. A workplace culture rooted in wellbeing allows employees to engage in the program, unleashing its full potential. Interestingly, average employee participation rate in wellness programmes skyrockets to 80% when 70% or more of the C-Suite are actively engaged.

Everyone – from finance to sales, HR to marketing – must know wellness is simply part of how the company operates and act accordingly. This is not unique to wellness companies. Wellness benefits everyone. Our survey respondents included HR leaders from more than 20 industries, from aerospace to fashion to mining. Every single one sees a performance boost from wellbeing.

The key question is: how do wellness programmes demonstrably impact critical business needs? Essentially by ensuring that employees show up for work as healthy as possible.

Reduced Healthcare Costs

In 2023, global medical costs surged by almost 11%. Over half the insurers worldwide are predicting these costs will keep climbing in the coming years, with the main offenders being inflation and the lack of access to preventative care.

An impressive 91% of HR leaders say they’ve seen their healthcare costs drop because of their wellness programs. That’s a huge leap from last year when 78% were already celebrating lower healthcare bills thanks to wellness efforts. And we’re not talking about tiny savings here: nearly a quarter (24%) are seeing major drops in their health spending.

Reduced Absenteeism

Unwell employees can be a big problem for businesses. When salaried employees are off sick, team morale and profits can be majorly impacted.

Nearly nine in 10 HR leaders (89%) attribute their wellness programmes to slashing the number of sick days taken by employees. Thirteen percent of those surveyed said they reduced the number of sick days by an astonishing five days or more – that’s like adding a whole extra week of productivity to the calendar.

Employee Retention and Satisfaction

An eye-opening 87% of employees are ready to wave goodbye to any employer that doesn’t focus on wellbeing, a big jump from 77% who felt that way in 2022. This can drive losses of institutional knowledge and a drag on the morale of the teammates left behind. And as any business knows, hiring and training a new employee is a costly job.

Increased Productivity

Wellbeing programmes are about more than increasing output in the short term – they’re also about building stamina, prepping teams to tackle anything the future throws at them. A robust wellbeing programme ensures employees are supported through both the ups and downs, aiding them in sustaining their engagement, productivity, and overall happiness in the workplace – ultimately boosting the output of a company, and helping retain income. A whopping 99% of HR leaders surveyed credit their wellbeing programmes with increased productivity in the workforce.

When working with my clients, I am reminded how important improving employee experiences is to a business's culture and bottom-line. Employee wellness programmes are no longer a perk, but a necessity to attract and retain top talent. Ultimately, HR and finance have a shared goal: a thriving company. By working together and prioritising employee wellbeing, they can achieve this goal powerfully. Let's move beyond the outdated perception of HR and Finance being at odds. Instead, let's embrace their synergy: It's time for HR and Finance to join forces and unlock the true potential of their workforce, creating a win-win for both people and profit.