Maximizing Workplace Wellbeing: How Wave’s ROI Calculator Puts People First

PREFER TO LISTEN? WE GOT YOU.

At Wave, we know that workplace wellbeing isn’t just about crunching numbers or balancing budgets — it’s about people.

At Wave, we know that workplace wellbeing isn’t just about crunching numbers or balancing budgets — it’s about people. The human aspect of mental health is often overshadowed by financial metrics, but ask any HR professional, and they’ll tell you: the goal isn’t just to cut costs. It’s to create a space where employees feel valued, supported, and genuinely well.

Wave’s Mental Health ROI Calculator is a tool that does more than calculate dollars and cents. It shines a light on the profound connection between investing in mental health and creating a thriving workplace culture. For organizations that truly care about their people, this tool becomes a bridge between their values and their bottom line.

How Mental Health Impacts the Workplace

Poor mental health has profound effects on workplace outcomes. Conditions like depression, which affects 1 in 10 adults, and anxiety, which affects 1 in 5, interfere with focus, motivation, and sleep, negatively impacting job performance and satisfaction. Depression alone can result in more than a month’s worth of missed work, and four weeks loss of productivity, annually. Mental health concerns also drive turnover — 50% of millennials, and 75% of Gen-Z, report leaving a job due to mental health reasons. 

Fortunately, effective mental health support can reverse these outcomes. Studies show that employees who participate in workplace mental health programs are more present, more productive, and more likely to be retained. Receiving care also reduces medical costs for employees and their employers. For these reasons, investing in employees’ mental health is associated with substantial ROI for employers. According to the World Health Organization, for every dollar spent to support the mental health of employees, businesses can expect an estimated $4 return in improved health and productivity.

As an HR professional, you can go beyond the estimates to learn exactly how mental health support could impact your specific organization with Wave’s ROI calculator.

How does Wave’s ROI calculator work?

First, you enter key information about your business, including the total number of employees, average employee salary, employee turnover rate, and the general age of your workforce. Then, we'll send a detailed description of your ROI directly to your inbox. We break down your estimated savings into three categories: increased productivity & reduced absenteeism, improved retention (reduced turnover), and reduced total cost of care. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Here’s how we measure ROI at Wave:

More present employees: Employees who struggle with their mental health take more time off and are less productive even when "in office." With mental health support, employees gain a day back each week due to fewer unplanned absences and more productive workdays.  

Less turnover: Mental health challenges are a key driver of attrition: on average, 20% of employees say they’ve left their jobs due to mental health reasons. Among Millenials and GenZ, mental health-related attrition is even higher (50-75%). Investing in employee mental health improves resilience and reduces turnover among vulnerable employees.

Reduced healthcare costs: Untreated mental health conditions contribute to considerable medical spend and impede effective management of chronic health issues. Addressing mental health improves treatment adherence and reduces unnecessary ER visits and costly inpatient care, resulting in lower total cost of care. 

Mental Health Support Belongs at Work

Every individual in the workplace brings their full self to the table — their talents, dreams, struggles, and challenges. When mental health suffers, it’s not just productivity that takes a hit; it’s the person. They may feel overwhelmed, unseen, or stuck, and these feelings can ripple through their work life and personal relationships.

HR professionals and leaders often carry the weight of knowing this. They see the people behind the spreadsheets and attendance records. They hear about stress, burnout, or anxiety during one-on-one meetings. And they want to help, not out of obligation, but because they care.

That’s what makes mental health initiatives so essential. They’re a way to say to your workforce: We see you. We value you. We want you to thrive.

Going Beyond Absenteeism and Presenteeism

While absenteeism and presenteeism are often the sole focus of the ROI conversation, the true return on investment goes deeper. When employees feel supported, they bring their full selves to work in the best way possible. They’re not just more present — they’re more creative, collaborative, and engaged.

Wave’s calculator underscores this by offering insights that go beyond dollars. It shows how mental health programs can strengthen relationships within teams, foster trust between leaders and employees, and create an environment where people genuinely want to stay and grow.

A Smarter Way to Plan for the Future

Integrating mental health ROI into your broader financial strategy is a game-changer. When you see how every dollar spent on wellbeing contributes to organizational resilience, it’s easier to secure buy-in from stakeholders and plan for sustainable growth.

Wave’s tool helps you connect the dots between employee wellbeing and long-term success. It’s not just about solving today’s challenges; it’s about building a workplace that attracts top talent, fosters innovation, and weathers economic uncertainties with ease.

For HR professionals and business leaders, success is no longer just about hitting targets or achieving KPIs. It’s about building organizations where people feel good about coming to work each day. It’s about making mental health a priority not because it’s a trend, but because it’s the right thing to do. 

Wave’s ROI calculator provides the data to back these decisions, so you confidently invest in your workforce's mental health — it’s good for people and good for business.

Closing the Gap Between Care and Results

Wave’s Mental Health ROI Calculator is more than a tool — it’s a compass for navigating the complex intersection of mental health and financial planning. By showing the real returns on mental health initiatives, it empowers organizations to invest in their people.

In a world where productivity, retention, and morale are directly tied to wellbeing, tools like this are essential. With Wave, you can move beyond guesswork and embrace a data-driven approach to workplace wellness.

Discover how Wave’s Mental Health ROI Calculator can transform not only your financial strategy but also the lives of the people who make your organization thrive. You can also request a demo to explore Wave’s self-guided app and mental health coaching today.