Deloitte’s comprehensive 2024 analysis of 26 studies reveals that employers receive an average return of £4.70 for every £1 invested in workplace mental health and wellbeing initiatives. That’s a staggering 470% ROI that puts most business investments to shame. Yet here’s the opportunity: only 55% of UK employees feel their organisation genuinely prioritises wellbeing, meaning the majority of businesses are leaving this extraordinary return on the table.
Deloitte’s research identifies three primary sources of return:
Productivity improvements: The largest return driver
Reduced presenteeism (employees present but unproductive due to poor wellbeing) accounts for the biggest portion of returns. With presenteeism costing UK businesses £24-28 billion annually, wellbeing programmes that address this issue deliver immediate productivity gains.
Absenteeism reduction: Direct cost savings
Wellbeing programmes significantly reduce mental health-related absences. Given that employees take an average of 18 days off annually for stress, depression, or anxiety, programmes that reduce this figure deliver substantial direct savings.
Retention improvements: Avoiding replacement costs
With the average cost of replacing an employee ranging from £3,000 to £30,000, wellbeing programmes that improve retention deliver compounding returns over time.
The research reveals a crucial insight: early intervention delivers higher returns than reactive support. Organisations implementing proactive, culture-wide wellbeing initiatives see returns exceeding the 470% average.
Universal programmes vs targeted interventions
Universal wellbeing programmes (available to all employees) generate £6.30 return for every £1 invested, compared to £4.70 for targeted interventions.
Prevention vs treatment approach
Organisation-wide culture change and education programmes deliver higher returns than intensive individual support provided after problems develop.
Despite compelling ROI evidence, the majority of UK businesses are failing to capitalise:
Industry-specific ROI variations
High-performing sectors:
Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) represent one of the highest ROI wellbeing investments. The EAP Association reports an average return of £10.85 for every £1 spent, significantly exceeding the overall wellbeing average.
Why EAPs deliver exceptional returns:
Step 1: Baseline cost assessment
Step 2: Investment calculation
Step 3: Return projection
Using the conservative 470% ROI figure:
With 88% of UK workers saying wellbeing is as important as salary, organisations with strong wellbeing programmes gain significant recruitment advantages whilst achieving 470% ROI. The combination of reduced absenteeism, decreased presenteeism, and improved engagement creates compounding productivity benefits.
The 470% ROI on workplace wellbeing programmes isn’t just a statistic – it’s a competitive imperative. In an environment where businesses struggle to find investments delivering double-digit returns, wellbeing programmes offer nearly 500% returns with relatively low risk.
The organisations that recognise this opportunity and implement comprehensive wellbeing strategies will gain sustainable competitive advantages in productivity, retention, and recruitment. Those that continue to view wellbeing as a cost rather than an investment will find themselves at an increasing disadvantage.
The question isn’t whether you can afford to invest in workplace wellbeing – it’s whether you can afford not to capture a 470% return on investment whilst your competitors do.
The ROI is proven. The opportunity is clear. The only question is whether you’ll seize it before your competitors do.
Tailored solutions for growing teams
Adding 10 or more team members? That’s exciting — and we’re here to help! For teams like yours, we offer custom membership options designed to fit your needs perfectly.
Let us know some more information using the form below — we usually reply within an hour during business hours. Prefer to chat? Give us a call on 020 3349 8269 — we’d love to hear from you!