Most businesses consider Wellbeing a tick box exercise — offering gym memberships, promoting work-life balance, perhaps the odd mental health day, but what if wellbeing wasn’t just an occasional perk? What if it's the single most strategic lever to improve performance, retention, and long-term business resilience?
• For every £1 spent on mental health interventions, UK businesses can see up to £5 return through reduced absence, presenteeism, and turnover – (CBI)
• Globally, investing in wellbeing can improve company performance by anywhere from 11% to 55%. (Workplace Wellbeing Professional)
• Companies that integrate wellness find 28% fewer sick days, 19% lower absenteeism, 12% more productivity, and 20% higher retention. (WiFi Talents)
• Nearly half (47%) of UK employers report increased productivity when employees’ health and wellbeing are supported—98% of those measuring impact say the benefits are positive. (Employee Benefits)
Workplaces worldwide are feeling the effects of declining mental health. According to Deloitte and the World Health Organisation, depression and anxiety result in 12 billion lost working days annually, amounting to more than $1 trillion in economic losses.
In high-pressure sectors like finance, poor mental health can cost employers an average of £5,379 per employee per year. (Financial Times)
However, companies committed to wellbeing are seeing remarkable outcomes. For instance, one UK firm, Brightstar Group, has seen staff productivity jump 40–60% higher than comparable companies, alongside improved retention and reduced sick days.
The correlation between employee wellbeing and business performance extends to financial markets. Indeed and Oxford University found that companies ranking highest on their Work Wellbeing Score consistently outperformed benchmark indices like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. An Indeed portfolio of companies with the happiest workforce delivered an 11% better performance than the S&P 500 since January 2021. (Business Insider)
Employee wellbeing extends beyond health—it fosters clarity, empowerment, and vision. Russell Reynolds Associates found:
• 82% of employees with high wellbeing report clear role objectives, compared to just 47% with medium wellbeing.
• 89% feel supported by the right team, compared to 55% with moderate wellbeing.
• 88% with high wellbeing are confident in their organisation’s future success—66% of those with moderate wellbeing feel the same.
(Russell Reynold Associates)
A recent four-day week trial by the Scottish government demonstrated that wellbeing strategies need not be hypothetical. Involving 259 staff across two public bodies, the trial maintained productivity while:
• Cutting psychological sick leave by 25%
• Boosting morale, motivation (98% at one body), and job satisfaction
• Encouraging smarter workflows like task-sharing, digitisation, and better planning
Far from being a cost, investing in wellbeing is a strategic advantage—improving productivity, building engagement, reducing costs, and lifting overall business outcomes. In today’s competitive landscape, prioritising wellbeing is about future-proofing your organisation.
• What is the true cost of presenteeism in your business?
• Could you pilot a wellbeing-centred initiative—like flexible hours, mental health support, or micro-break programmes—and rigorously measure impact?
• How might reframing wellbeing as a performance driver—rather than a perk—change leadership mindset?
At Jigsaw Workplace Training we can support you to improve and personalise your Wellbeing initiatives with a focus on employee performance increasing productivity, engagement and motivation. Contact us today to talk about your requirements
www.jigsawworkplacetraining.co.uk
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