It's a question we hear all the time in this line of work: What's the return on investment (ROI) on corporate wellness? With all the time, resources, and yes—money, organizations put into a wellness program, what can they expect to see in return? We put the question to our HR experts to see what they had to say.

Corporate Wellness ROI

Note: Property Solutions is now Entrata  

Happy Employees are Productive Employees

Entrata's VP of Human Resources, Brandon Fish, says he's seen a change in employees' outlooks since implementing their wellness program. Thanks to regular surveys, leaders at Entrata know their employees appreciate the money and time invested in them and their health. Survey after survey gives the same report: employees appreciate the culture at the company, and the wellness initiative is a huge part of that culture.

‍The employees are happier and healthier, so they naturally enjoy going to work every day. Entrata has measurable metrics on employee satisfaction, and they know that happier employees are more productive and make the company more money.

Related: How to Improve Wellness Program Participation: 4 Simple Tasks

Doing the Right Thing Turns a Profit

Cammie Cable, VP of Human Resources at Clearlink, knows that supporting employees' health and wellness is reason enough to invest in a wellness program. Before even looking at any kind of financial ROI, Clearlink's leaders knew it was the right thing to do.

However, after a few years, the wellness program did begin creating financial returns. They saw a reduction in claims and in the overall healthcare premiums cost.  

Onsite Clinic Keeps Wellness Close

Though Varian Medical Systems doesn't track specific financial returns on their wellness efforts, their onsite clinic provides much-needed healthcare services for employees, says Nurse Practitioner Diana Hasselfeld. The onsite clinic is staffed by a Nurse Practitioner who can see employees for their health needs and write prescriptions.

This saves the employees from having to go to instacare -- it saves time away from work as well as co-payments the employees would have to pay. This program has helped to keep workers' compensation claims down by preventing onsite injury.

Related: Onsite Care — Why Strong Culture Depends on a Healthcare Strategy

Employee Success Means Business Success

Chad Myler, Wellness Director at Usana Health Sciences has several examples of employees who have seen tremendous personal success through their wellness initiatives. He's seen his employees shed unhealthy weight, quit smoking and become overall healthier. That kind of return can't be denied.

In addition to improvements in health, employees at Usana Health Sciences have seen success with their financial wellness program as well. Using outside vendors, employees have been able to get one-on-one consultations regarding their 401k plans and get valuable insight into understanding their finances.

Related: Wellness Program Ideas: 3 Lessons I Learned the Hard Way

Give It Time

HR Director at Nelson Laboratories' HR Director, Randy Rassmussen suggests your organization's tolerances on ROI.

Because wellness programs may take three to five years before seeing a return, make sure this is sufficient time to give before attempting to assess the program's viability.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in June 2015. It has been updated to reflect accuracy.

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