This document presents the business case for implementing workplace wellness programs. It cites evidence that stress-related illnesses cost businesses $200-300 billion annually in lost productivity. Wellness programs can help reduce absenteeism, presenteeism, employee turnover and healthcare costs. Studies found that for every $1 spent on wellness programs, there was an estimated $1.50-$6 return on investment in reduced healthcare spending and increased productivity. Companies that won awards for their wellness programs significantly outperformed market averages.

1. A BUSINESS CASE FOR
WELLNESS
HTTP://WWW.HEALTHADVOCATE.COM/_MOBILE/DOWNLOADS/COMMUNICATIONS-
PDFS/B2B/WHITE_PAPER_STRESS_IN_WORKPLACE.PDF
HTTP://WWW.HEALTHADVOCATE.COM/SITE/ARTICLE/COMBATING-THE-EFFECTS-OF-EMPLOYEE-STRESS
HTTPS://WWW.YUMPU.COM/EN/DOCUMENT/READ/38104129/MANAGING-PRESENTEEISM-AND-DISABILITY-
TO-IMPROVE-PRODUCTIVITY-
HTTPS://INFO.WORKINSTITUTE.COM/HUBFS/2019%20RETENTION%20REPORT/WORK%20INSTITUTE%202019
%20RETENTION%20REPORT%20FINAL-1.PDF
HTTPS://WWW.RAND.ORG/CONTENT/DAM/RAND/PUBS/RESEARCH_BRIEFS/RB9700/RB9744/RAND_RB9744.P
DF
HTTPS://HBR.ORG/2010/12/WHATS-THE-HARD-RETURN-ON-EMPLOYEE-WELLNESS-PROGRAMS
HTTPS://JOURNALS.LWW.COM/JOEM/FULLTEXT/2016/01000/THE_STOCK_PERFORMANCE_OF_C__EVERETT_K
OOP_AWARD.3.ASPX
HTTPS://WWW.SCIENCEDAILY.COM/RELEASES/2014/05/140513152933.HTM#:~:TEXT=A%20NEW%20STUDY%20
IN%20THE,WHO%20IS%20OF%20NORMAL%20WEIGHT.
HTTPS://WWW.CDC.GOV/WORKPLACEHEALTHPROMOTION/MODEL/EVALUATION/PRODUCTIVITY.HTML
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Publicly traded companies who won the Koop Award for workplace wellness
programs appreciated by 325% compared with the market average appreciation
of 105%.7
ROI OF A WELLNESS PROGRAM
This leads to absenteeism, productivity losses, injuries, turnover, and
higher healthcare costs due to stress related illness.
Stress-related illnesses,
from depression to heart
disease, cost businesses
an estimated $200 to $300
billion a year in lost
productivity.2
33%
The Work Institute
estimates that the cost to
lose a U.S. worker earning
a median salary is $15,000,
or
2/3 of American
employees say that
work is a main source of
stress in their lives 1
percent of
health-related
lost
productivity
in business is
due to
Absenteeism.3
A morbidly obese employee
costs an employer over $4,000
more per year in health care
and related costs than an
employee who is of normal
weight.8
Productivity losses related to
personal and family health
problems cost U.S. employers
$1,685 per employee per year...
of employee turnover in
2018 was due to work-life
balance and well-being.4
The RAND corporation
found an overall ROI of
$1.50 for every dollar that
the employer invested in a
entire wellness program.5
The Harvard Business Review
found that every dollar
invested in an employee
wellness program yielded $6
in healthcare savings.6
26%
$150 billiion
or $225.8
billion
annually.9
Presenteeism adds up to nearly
a year in lost productivity 3
20%
of the employee's salary.4