Workplace Health and Wellness Plan Return On Investment (ROI)

For well over a decade, research has been showing the effectiveness of Workplace Wellness Programs. For each dollar spent on Workplace Wellness Programs, the returns have been cost savings of between $2.30 and $10.10 in the areas of decreased rates of absence, fewer sick days, reduced WSIB/WCB claims, lowered health and insurance costs, and improvements to staff member performance and productivity.

Statistics do show that Workplace Wellness Initiatives increase staff member morale, improve the ability to attract and retain key workers, all while having more alert and productive workers. Some Workplace Health and Wellness Plan ROI statistics of note:

• Canada Life Insurance reported a return of $3.43 on Workplace Wellness Program, and an overall Workplace Health and Wellness Plan ROI of $6.85 on each corporate dollar invested on reduced turnover (32.4% lower), productivity gains and decreased medical claims,
• DuPont’s Workplace Health and Wellness Plan pilot sites saw a saving of 11,726 disability days and a return of U.S. $2.05 for each dollar invested by the end of the second year,
• The Canadian government’s Workplace Health and Wellness Plan ROI was $1.95-$3.75 per staff member per dollar spent (as found by Dr. Roy Shephard),
• Municipal workers in Toronto, missed 3.35 fewer days in the first six months of their Workplace Health and Wellness Plan than workers not enrolled in the program,
• British Columbia Hydro workers enrolled in a Workplace Health and Wellness Plan had a turnover rate of just 3.5% compared with a Business average of 10.3 percent,
• Johnson & Johnson estimated an average saving of U.S. $224.66 per staff member per year for the four years examined after the program introduction, with the bulk of the savings being in the third and fourth years,
• Pacific Bell found that overall rates of absence decreased after starting a Workplace Wellness Program,
• Coca Cola report saving $500 every year per staff member after starting a Workplace Wellness Program, with only 60% of their workers taking part,
• Coors Brewing Co. found that for each dollar spent on their Workplace Health and Wellness Plan they saw a $5.50 return, and the workers who participated reduced their absentee rate by 18 percent, and
• Prudential Insurance Company found that the benefits costs for workers taking part in their program were $312, as opposed to $574 for non-members