{"id":888,"date":"2020-01-02T05:52:58","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T12:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/?p=888"},"modified":"2026-03-10T03:09:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:09:22","slug":"wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Wellness ROI vs VOI: The Best Employee Well-being Programs Use Both"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#What_is_wellness_ROI\" >What is wellness ROI?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#What_are_the_goals_of_an_employee_well-being_program\" >What are the goals of an employee well-being program?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#How_is_ROI_calculated_for_wellness_programs\" >How is ROI calculated for wellness programs?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#Do_wellness_programs_actually_save_companies_money\" >Do wellness programs actually save companies money?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#What_is_wellness_VOI_value_on_investment\" >What is wellness VOI (value on investment)?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#How_should_organizations_use_wellness_VOI_metrics\" >How should organizations use wellness VOI metrics?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#What_metrics_should_be_used_to_evaluate_ROI_and_VOI\" >What metrics should be used to evaluate ROI and VOI?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#What_goals_define_the_best_employee_well-being_programs\" >What goals define the best employee well-being programs?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote executive-summary is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-size:17px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong>Executive Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group executive-summary\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>What is the return on investment for employee wellness and well-being programs?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"executive-summary\" style=\"font-size:16px\">Employee wellness and well-being programs deliver a positive return on investment by reducing health care costs, lowering absenteeism, and improving productivity. These programs work by lowering preventable health risks that drive chronic disease and high medical spending. Organizations that invest in well-designed wellness programs often see measurable financial gains alongside a healthier, more engaged workforce. The strongest ROI comes from programs that focus on long-term behavior change and risk reduction.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-wellness-roi\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_wellness_ROI\"><\/span>What is wellness ROI?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These days there is a lot of talk about the wellness ROI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/roi-calculator\">return on investment<\/a>) vs VOI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/resourcesandtools\/hr-topics\/benefits\/pages\/wellness-metrics-beyond-roi.aspx\">value on investment<\/a>) of employee well-being programs. Some have suggested that wellness ROI is no longer important and that all wellness outcomes should be measured in terms of value (or wellness VOI). This article will review why that is definitely not the case. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/VOI-image-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-910\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/VOI-image-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/VOI-image-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/VOI-image-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/VOI-image.jpg 1774w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>To understand what wellness ROI really is, we have to consider all of the reasons that companies do employee well-being programs in the first place. Most of the time, a wellness program is implemented with the hopes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/26\/wellness-health-care-costs\/\">controlling healthcare costs<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/07\/best-worksite-wellness-programs\/\">improving employee health<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/27\/employee-health-and-productivity\/\">improving employee productivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The table below is a fairly exhaustive list of the known reasons for doing worksite wellness. They range from saving healthcare dollars to just plain having fun. &nbsp;Ninety-one percent&nbsp;of employers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/images\/stories\/webinars\/other%20webinar%20attachments\/2.%20Beyond_ROI.pdf\">report<\/a> offering health and well-being programs for reasons beyond medical cost savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"table-responsive\">\n<table class=\"table table-bordered table-striped\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Reasons for Doing A Well-being Program<\/th>\n<th>Type of Data<\/th>\n<th>Measure<br>Used<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Manage or reduce health care costs<br>Reduce the number of sick days<br>Manage\/reduce disability claims<\/td>\n<td>Most companies have medical claims, absenteeism and disability data.<br>These are easier to evaluate because data is more readily available.<br>These are financial measures reported in dollars.<\/td>\n<td>ROI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Reduce employee health risks<br>Improve employee job satisfaction<br>Improve employee productivity<br>Improve employee morale<br>Attract or retain talented employees<br>Improve employee energy levels at work<br>Increase on-the-job safety<br>Impact business performance and profitability &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;.<br>Improve comradery and team effectiveness<br>Reduce presenteeism<br>Have fun<\/td>\n<td>These outcomes are more difficult, if not impossible to accurately measure.<br>Special efforts and expense are required to get these data.<br>They are considered &#8220;softer&#8221; measures because they are often self-reported. They are not reported in dollars.<\/td>\n<td>VOI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-goals-of-an-employee-well-being-program\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_goals_of_an_employee_well-being_program\"><\/span>What are the goals of an employee well-being program?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/24\/wellness-solutions-workplace-wellness-programs\/\">best employee well-being programs<\/a> have goals that include reducing healthcare costs, absenteeism, and disability. These benefits can be quantified by summing the dollars saved by the wellness program divided by the dollars spent on the wellness program. This is the classic wellness ROI analysis, sometimes known as a benefit-to-cost ratio.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3968\" height=\"2232\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/screening-image.jpg\" alt=\"how much can companies save with wellness programs, value on investment wellness programs, financial benefits of workplace wellness programs, wellness program roi calculator, do employee wellness programs increase productivity\" class=\"wp-image-685\" style=\"width:436px;height:245px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/screening-image.jpg 3968w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/screening-image-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/screening-image-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/screening-image-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/screening-image-800x450.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3968px) 100vw, 3968px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>For example, if a well-being program has a wellness ROI of 3.1, that means that it saved $3.1 for every dollar that was spent offering the program. An ROI of 1 means the program broke even. There have been several scientific publications that have evaluated the wellness ROI of health promotion programs. Typically, they look at healthcare costs saved divided by the cost of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/14\/workplace-wellness-statistics-wellness-stats\/\">very large and complex actuarial studies<\/a> that carefully compare healthcare expenditures of wellness program participants and non-participants across time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-is-roi-calculated-for-wellness-programs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_ROI_calculated_for_wellness_programs\"><\/span>How is ROI calculated for wellness programs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you already have a wellness program in place, or if you are debating whether it will be worth it to start one, click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/roi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a> to use the free WellSteps ROI calculator. Numerous scientific studies back it, and researchers update it each year with the most recent findings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/roi-calculator.jpg\" alt=\"wellness roi calculator\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-do-wellness-programs-actually-save-companies-money\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_wellness_programs_actually_save_companies_money\"><\/span>Do wellness programs actually save companies money?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the WellSteps ROI calculator has not convinced you that, dollar for dollar, employee wellness programs can save your company money, here is a flat out number for you: a 2019 report by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans found that most employers in North America saved between $1 and $3 in health care costs for every $1 spent on company wellness programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are so confident about the cost effectiveness of employee wellness programs that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/explore\/wellsteps-performance-guarantee\/\">WellSteps offers a performance guarantee<\/a>. We guarantee in year one that over 50% of eligible employees will participate, in year two that employees will demonstrate a significant improvement in health behaviors, and in year three we guarantee a positive wellness ROI. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/demosignup\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1576\" height=\"693\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2233\" style=\"width:471px;height:207px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents.png 1576w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-768x338.png 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-1024x450.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-1140x500.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1576px) 100vw, 1576px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In reality, by the time our clients reach year three, they no longer care about the wellness ROI. They and their employees deeply value the new culture that an effective wellness program has created. In other words, the wellness value on investment becomes the most significant indicator of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-wellness-voi-value-on-investment\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_wellness_VOI_value_on_investment\"><\/span>What is wellness VOI (value on investment)?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like ROI, a wellness VOI analysis also tries to compare employee well-being program participants to non-participants, but in addition to looking at dollars saved, they also look at other measures such as job satisfaction or employee morale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Value on investment is not a very easy term to understand because it&#8217;s not very descriptive. Wellness VOI measures often rely on self-reported data, require additional data collection and expenses, and people consider them &#8220;softer&#8221; metrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s clear that the best worksite well-being programs impact employee morale, but how exactly can employee morale be quantified? The same applies to team cohesiveness, recruitment, or retention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, these are all questions related to wellness value on investment. A wellness VOI evaluation does not produce a numeric ratio like a wellness ROI does. The results of a wellness VOI study just state the facts: the program improved job satisfaction by X amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-should-organizations-use-wellness-voi-metrics\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_should_organizations_use_wellness_VOI_metrics\"><\/span>How should organizations use wellness VOI metrics?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some individuals believe they must choose only a single measurement technique &#8211; they advocate for either wellness ROI or wellness VOI, but not both. However, this perspective is flawed. While quantifying &#8220;softer measures&#8221; may pose challenges, top-notch worksite wellness programs have the potential to influence a broad spectrum of outcomes within an organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These outcomes may include tangible metrics like healthcare cost claims, as well as qualitative measures such as reductions in accidents per month, improvements in blood glucose levels, or enhancements in self-reported job satisfaction scores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-metrics-should-be-used-to-evaluate-roi-and-voi\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_metrics_should_be_used_to_evaluate_ROI_and_VOI\"><\/span>What metrics should be used to evaluate ROI and VOI?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Disregarding financial outcomes in favor of solely focusing on other metrics is like relying solely on blood tests to gauge changes in blood glucose levels while disregarding feedback from self-reported assessments of mental well-being or dietary analyses. Each assessment provides valuable insights; they simply gauge different aspects. Wellness Value on Investment (VOI) is essentially a term indicating a desire to assess how a wellness program impacts the qualitative aspects within an organization.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/reasons-for-employee-wellness.jpg\" alt=\"employees take a wellness break\" class=\"wp-image-2885\" style=\"width:468px;height:307px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/reasons-for-employee-wellness.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/reasons-for-employee-wellness-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/reasons-for-employee-wellness-342x225.jpg 342w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The truth is that the data used in wellness ROI analyses tends to be pretty reliable and somewhat easy to obtain. After all, companies pay healthcare costs as expenses. In short, we can track spending and identify where the money went. By digging into the claims data, splitting it between participants and non-participants, and extending the study over several years, we can clearly see the healthcare cost trends linked to the wellness program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, companies don&#8217;t normally gather employee morale data. They rarely gather information on productivity, energy levels, or presenteeism &#8211; the data on wellness VOI. Because, these types of data require special surveys and an extraordinary effort on the part of the company to collect and evaluate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since most companies don&#8217;t have this type of data readily available, they don&#8217;t perform the research. &nbsp;Researchers publish lots of wellness <a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2016\/04\/meet-the-wellness-programs-that-save-companies-money\">ROI studies<\/a> because, in most worksites, the data needed for wellness ROI studies already exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Outside of the U.S., the wellness VOI is about the only reason companies do wellness. &nbsp;Around the world, the need to control employee-related healthcare costs is nonexistent. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In these countries, companies use worksite wellness programs solely to boost productivity and add value from the workforce. There is little need to conduct wellness ROI analyses when wellness VOI is the primary reason programs exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-goals-define-the-best-employee-well-being-programs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_goals_define_the_best_employee_well-being_programs\"><\/span>What goals define the best employee well-being programs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another compelling reason for the widespread interest in wellness VOI is evident. With each passing year, the number of companies implementing wellness programs continues to rise. Nowadays, the majority of employees have access to such programs through their employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, not all of these initiatives prove effective; indeed, some may even do more harm than good. Nevertheless, the overall caliber of wellness programs has never been better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, many employers with a successful employee well-being program no longer prioritize wellness ROI. Initially, the inception of such programs was likely driven by a desire to reduce healthcare expenditures. However, as these programs matured, their value to the organization became increasingly apparent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a company implements a well-being program effectively, employees experience a positive shift in their well-being as they actively engage in cultivating healthier lifestyles. This leads to heightened employee morale and job satisfaction, consequently enhancing the overall mood and culture of the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What initially began as a strategic approach to managing employee-related expenses (with a focus on wellness ROI) transforms into a cultural shift within the organization. In fact, this shift fosters an environment that encourages employees to lead healthier lives, aligning with a wellness VOI focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, the pursuit of a high wellness ROI turns into a realization that there is tremendous value in having healthy, happy employees. These employer groups gradually discover that there is true value in having a healthy, vibrant, and productive workforce. In short, it turns out that the wellness VOI of well-being programs ends up being the most important outcome of an effective well-being program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773133668586\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is wellness ROI, and how is it different from VOI in employee well-being programs?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Wellness ROI (return on investment) focuses on hard-dollar outcomes from wellness programs, like reduced healthcare claims or fewer sick days. VOI (value on investment) looks at the broader gains\u2014improved morale, productivity, engagement, and culture. When people ask about wellness ROI, we often explain that it\u2019s just one piece of the picture; VOI captures benefits that are real but not always line-itemed in a budget.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773133673258\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Why should employers care about both wellness ROI and VOI instead of just one?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Employers should care about both wellness ROI and VOI because wellness programs influence both financial risk and human experience. You might see early VOI as employees report feeling more supported, less stressed, and more connected. Over time, those \u201csofter\u201d wins often lead to stronger wellness ROI, with lower turnover, fewer high-cost claims, and better overall performance. The two work together.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773133673920\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How can HR start measuring wellness ROI without complex analytics?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">To start measuring wellness ROI, you don\u2019t need a perfect model\u2014you just need consistent tracking. Look at trends in absenteeism, disability claims, health plan utilization for preventable conditions, and even overtime related to coverage gaps. When wellness participation is high in certain locations or departments, and those areas show better trends, you\u2019re starting to see wellness ROI in action.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773133674590\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are some examples of VOI that wellness programs can create?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">VOI from wellness programs can show up in higher engagement scores, fewer burnout reports, better manager feedback, stronger teamwork, and more positive comments in open-ended surveys. When employees say things like \u201cI feel more supported here\u201d or \u201cThis company cares about us as people,\u201d that\u2019s your wellness VOI speaking\u2014even if it doesn\u2019t show up immediately on a claims report.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773133675414\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How can HR share wellness ROI and VOI stories with leadership to keep support strong?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">HR can share both wellness ROI and VOI with leadership by pairing numbers with narratives. You might show reduced sick days alongside a few short employee stories about feeling better or being able to manage a chronic condition more effectively. When leaders see that wellness ROI and VOI are helping both the business and the people, they\u2019re more likely to continue investing in and championing the program.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is wellness ROI? These days there is a lot of talk about the wellness ROI (return on investment) vs VOI (value on investment) of employee well-being programs. Some have suggested that wellness ROI is no longer important and that all wellness outcomes should be measured in terms of value (or wellness VOI). This article&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Wellness ROI vs VOI: The Best Employee Well-being Programs Use Both<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":108082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,19,11],"tags":[61,57,23,56],"class_list":["post-888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employee-wellness","category-workplace-wellness","category-worksite-wellness","tag-best-worksite-wellness-programs","tag-voi","tag-wellness-roi","tag-wellness-voi"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Wellness ROI vs VOI: The Best Employee Programs Use Both<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The best employee well-being programs have a wellness ROI and VOI. 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Employee wellness and well-being programs deliver a","og_url":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/","og_site_name":"Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WellSteps\/","article_published_time":"2020-01-02T12:52:58+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-10T09:09:22+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Yoga-in-the-park-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dr. Steve Aldana","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@wellsteps","twitter_site":"@wellsteps","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dr. Steve Aldana","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/"},"author":{"name":"Dr. Steve Aldana","@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5a665881fbbbd2658e8b0fab9a2f701e"},"headline":"Wellness ROI vs VOI: The Best Employee Well-being Programs Use Both","datePublished":"2020-01-02T12:52:58+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-10T09:09:22+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/"},"wordCount":1966,"commentCount":1,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Yoga-in-the-park-scaled.jpg","keywords":["best worksite wellness programs","voi","wellness ROI","wellness voi"],"articleSection":["employee wellness","workplace wellness","worksite wellness"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/","url":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/","name":"Wellness ROI vs VOI: The Best Employee Programs Use Both","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Yoga-in-the-park-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2020-01-02T12:52:58+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-10T09:09:22+00:00","description":"The best employee well-being programs have a wellness ROI and VOI. 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Dr. Aldana authored over 75 scientific papers and 7 books on health risk management, healthy living, and health promotion programs. He has given over 350 keynote speeches across the U.S. on the ability of good nutrition and regular exercise to prevent, arrest, and reverse many chronic diseases.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/author\/steve\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#faq-question-1773133668586","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#faq-question-1773133668586","name":"What is wellness ROI, and how is it different from VOI in employee well-being programs?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Wellness ROI (return on investment) focuses on hard-dollar outcomes from wellness programs, like reduced healthcare claims or fewer sick days. VOI (value on investment) looks at the broader gains\u2014improved morale, productivity, engagement, and culture. When people ask about wellness ROI, we often explain that it\u2019s just one piece of the picture; VOI captures benefits that are real but not always line-itemed in a budget.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#faq-question-1773133673258","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#faq-question-1773133673258","name":"Why should employers care about both wellness ROI and VOI instead of just one?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Employers should care about both wellness ROI and VOI because wellness programs influence both financial risk and human experience. You might see early VOI as employees report feeling more supported, less stressed, and more connected. Over time, those \u201csofter\u201d wins often lead to stronger wellness ROI, with lower turnover, fewer high-cost claims, and better overall performance. The two work together.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#faq-question-1773133673920","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#faq-question-1773133673920","name":"How can HR start measuring wellness ROI without complex analytics?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"To start measuring wellness ROI, you don\u2019t need a perfect model\u2014you just need consistent tracking. Look at trends in absenteeism, disability claims, health plan utilization for preventable conditions, and even overtime related to coverage gaps. When wellness participation is high in certain locations or departments, and those areas show better trends, you\u2019re starting to see wellness ROI in action.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#faq-question-1773133674590","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#faq-question-1773133674590","name":"What are some examples of VOI that wellness programs can create?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"VOI from wellness programs can show up in higher engagement scores, fewer burnout reports, better manager feedback, stronger teamwork, and more positive comments in open-ended surveys. When employees say things like \u201cI feel more supported here\u201d or \u201cThis company cares about us as people,\u201d that\u2019s your wellness VOI speaking\u2014even if it doesn\u2019t show up immediately on a claims report.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#faq-question-1773133675414","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/wellness-roi-employee-well-being-programs\/#faq-question-1773133675414","name":"How can HR share wellness ROI and VOI stories with leadership to keep support strong?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"HR can share both wellness ROI and VOI with leadership by pairing numbers with narratives. You might show reduced sick days alongside a few short employee stories about feeling better or being able to manage a chronic condition more effectively. 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