It is the question every benefits pro has to answer: Is a wellness initiative a worthwhile investment? While many of us would instinctively answer “yes!”, you can’t make a case for funding off of instinct.

“The Wellness Imperative: Creating More Effective Organizations”, recently released by Right Management, would certainly have you believing so. This study looks at the links between wellness initiatives in the workplace and performance, engagement, retention and innovation. Their results might surprise you.

Here are some of the key findings from the study:

• Sixty-five percent of respondents who identified their organizations as “one of the best performing organizations in its sector” also responded favorably to the statement, “My organization actively promotes health and well-being.”


• Among those who supported the proposition that their organization actively promotes health and well-being, 73% also identified their workplace as highly productive.


• In organizations perceived as actively promoting health and well-being, 55% of employees reported being engaged. In organizations not so perceived, by contrast, only 7% of employees reported being engaged.


• Seventy-two percent of respondents who rated their organization highly for actively promoting health and well-being also rated it highly for encouraging creativity and innovation.


• Of those who take a favorable view of their organization’s efforts, only 5% plan to stay for under one year, while 64% plan to stay for at least five years.