Top 11 workplace wellness statistics

As an employer, what do you want from your teams? Productivity, engagement, and innovation likely top the list. But here’s the thing: Without employee wellness, those goals might stay out of reach. 

Workplace wellness is no feel-good perk – it’s a business imperative. From higher retention rates to boosted productivity, the data surrounding it speaks volumes. 

Below, we look at the eleven must-know statistics to show why prioritizing employee wellbeing is non-negotiable. You can also use these to inform your future wellness strategies.

How we researched this topic

We sought out statistics from primary sources: organizations that surveyed employers or employees about wellness. These included respected organizations like Gallup and Deloitte, and the surveyed employees and employers came from a range of industries and business sizes..

We prioritized stats from studies published within the last five years to ensure relevance and accuracy, but we included some historical stats to show how perceptions and treatment of wellness have evolved over time. 

We also included some stats on wellbeing. Wellness is more focused on mental and physical health while wellbeing is a broader concept that encompasses wellness and other dimensions of health. However, as companies continue to approach wellness more holistically, these terms are increasingly used interchangeably – so we feel wellbeing stats are highly relevant. 

Key takeaways

• Wellness is a top priority for employees and employers, but many employees think their employers don’t care enough about their wellbeing. 

• Issues with wellness can lead to problems with work-life separation, disengagement, and burnout…which can cost businesses tons in lost productivity. 

• Organizations with wellness programs experience improved financial sustainability, growth, and productivity. Meanwhile, employees are more satisfied with their jobs. 

Employees, employers, and wellness 

1. Around 90% of employees consider wellness or wellbeing when evaluating employers

In 2013, Forbes reported that a whopping 87% of employees consider health and wellness when selecting employers to work for. 

This number likely hasn’t changed much. For instance, a 2023 survey by MindSpace found that nine out of ten employees consider well-being offerings and facilities to be necessities when choosing an employer. Meanwhile, 82% expect their employers to support them in achieving a work-life balance.

2. Wellbeing is a top priority for 75% of employees

A 2022 report by Deloitte showed that 75% of employees say improving their wellbeing is a top priority – with 68% saying this goal is more important than advancing their careers.  

3. 1 in 4 chief human resource officers (CHROs) has made wellbeing a top organizational priority 

Wellness (and wellbeing) is a top priority for employers, too. 

According to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2019, nearly 85% of large employers offered workplace wellness programs. 

Meanwhile, Gallup’s more recent March 2024 survey of CHROs from large companies also showed that wellbeing ranked among the top priorities for one out of every four CHROs they surveyed.

4. But just 21% of employees think their workplaces care about their wellbeing

Unfortunately, Gallup has also found that employees’ perception that employers care about wellbeing has nosedived and hit a record bottom in late 2024. Just over a fifth of employees strongly agreed with the statement “my organization cares about my overall wellbeing.”   

Blurred boundaries, disengagement, burnout

5. 57% of employees don’t often have enough time for friends and family

Modern employees are increasingly struggling with work-life separation and blurred boundaries between their personal and professional lives, and this is impacting their wellness.

Deloitte’s 2022 survey revealed a number of interesting insights about this: specifically, about how employees’ wellness is directly impacted by their jobs. Here’s what the employees who were surveyed said: 

Only 65% self-reported “excellent” or “good” physical wellbeing

• Only 59% self-reported “excellent” or “good” mental wellbeing

• Only 51% self-reported “excellent” or “good” social wellbeing

• Only 40% self-reported “excellent” or “good” financial wellbeing

Here’s what else they said about how their jobs impact their wellbeing: 

• Only 43% “always” or “often” have enough time for friends and family

• Only 45% “always” or “often” get seven hours of sleep

• Only 48% “always” or “often” use all their vacation time each year

• Only 52% “always” or “often” move or exercise each day

• Only 62% “always” or “often” stop working at a reasonable time

• Only 63% “always” or “often” work fewer than forty hours per week

Forty-eight percent of these employees have quit jobs in the past because their roles were negatively impacting their wellbeing, while 57% were seriously considering quitting in favor of jobs that better supported their wellbeing.

6. Disengaged employees cost US businesses up to $1.9 trillion nationally

Employees struggling with their wellness or wellbeing are often not engaged or even actively disengaged. This diminishes their productivity, which can be costly. 

The biggest problem with disengagement is that it’s hard to know exactly what it costs.

According to Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace report, the lost productivity resulting from employees who either aren’t engaged or are actively disengaged cost the globe $8.8 trillion.

Gallup also found that in the US, the costs associated with these employees are around $1.9 trillion.

7. 58% of employees experience moderate to severe burnout on the job

Other employees struggling with their wellness are experiencing more than just disengagement: they’re experiencing burnout. 

Burned-out employees exhibit lower engagement levels, often leading to lower productivity, inadequate service delivery, and an underperforming business.

A 2017 Career Builder study found 61% of employees reporting feeling burnt out on the job, and this number hasn’t changed much since. For instance, a 2024 Aflac report found that: 

• 9% of employees experience very high burnout

• 14% experience high burnout

• 35% experience moderate burnout

The same study found that burnout rates were much higher among the Millennial generation – at 66% – against just 39% for Baby Boomers. Gen Z and Gen X fall in the middle. 

Employee wellness programs

8. 61% of employees say an employer wellness program helped them make healthier lifestyle choices

An Aflac report found that 61% of employees felt that wellness programs helped them make healthier lifestyle choices.

Healthier lifestyle choices lead to higher levels of happiness and better physical and mental health. In the workplace, this can lead to improved engagement, increased productivity, and fewer sick days. 

9. 70% of employees with access to wellness programs report higher levels of job satisfaction

A separate Aflac report from 2024-25 found employees enjoy their jobs more when they have access to wellness programs.

Employees who enjoy their jobs will be better at their jobs. You’ll also reduce your labor turnover and the stress on your recruitment teams.

10. 88% of employees believe businesses are responsible for their wellbeing, but just 59% think the wellness programs offered are effective 

Wellhub’s 2025 State of Work-Life Wellness Report found that 83% of employees would leave their workplace if it didn’t focus enough on wellbeing. 

Meanwhile, 88% of employees feel businesses are responsible for helping them with their wellbeing, but only 59% think what’s offered is good enough. That’s between a quarter and a third of workers that are ready to move to other companies or aren’t happy with what their company is doing for their wellness.

11. 95% of companies using wellness programs saw positive returns 

Wellhub’s 2024 Return on Wellbeing report discovered nearly all of the companies measuring the ROI of their corporate wellness programs saw positive returns. 

Here’s what the HR leaders who responded to this Wellhub’s survey said:

• 99% saw increased employe productivity 

• 91% saw reduced healthcare costs

• 89% saw reduced sick days and absenteeism

• 98% reduced recruitment costs and turnover

The stats don’t lie: Implementing a wellness program can lead to significant ROI.

Why implement a workplace wellness program?

When you invest in an employee wellness program, everyone wins!

Your employees:

• Learn how to manage stress better

• Make healthier lifestyle choices

• Are happier at work and stay with you for longer

• Are empowered to do more to separate their personal and professional lives

Your business:

• Improves productivity, revenue, profitability, and growth

• Benefits from motivated and engaged teams

• Is more attractive to job seekers

• Builds a reputation as an employer who focuses on employee wellness

If these workplace wellness statistics have motivated you to make some changes at your company, remember: Improving wellness doesn’t have to be hard. You don’t even need a full-blown employee wellness program to help you achieve these outcomes. Just invest a bit of time in looking at what you can change – like minimizing stress and burnout and helping with work-life separation – to immediately start improving team wellness.

But if you’re a HR manager in a bigger company, organize and deliver a wellness program to transform your business and your teams.

What wellness offerings do employees want? 

Don’t forget the above stat from Wellhub: Only 59% of employees think their employers’ wellness offerings are good enough.

Modern employees want holistic wellness support – that is, support that helps them with various aspects of their health, wellness, and overall wellbeing. For instance, Deloitte’s research showed that 67% of employees wanted their employers to focus on their whole-person health.

So, what initiatives or benefits might you include? 

According to a 2023 wellbeing survey by Mindspace, top wellbeing initiatives include flexible work options, shorter workweeks, and healthy eating options. 

Another 2024 survey conducted by IdentityForce shows that top desired wellness benefits include: 

• Mental health support 

• Telemedicine/counseling 

• Wellness programs / wellness stipends 

• Financial wellness coaching / financial advice

• Digital wellness help (think: identity theft protection programs)

Consider looking at similar surveys when putting together your wellness initiatives or programs. 

Workplace wellness is your way to success and happiness for all

Workplace wellness is the foundation of a thriving business, not just a box-ticking exercise. 

One great way to improve your wellness efforts? Adopt skills-based hiring. Skills-based hiring and employee wellbeing are intricately connected.

Through skills-based hiring, you can make sure employees are better matched to their roles, reducing job stress and increasing job satisfaction. With insights into their skills, you can also offer meaningful recognition and career development…further boosting satisfaction. Plus, employees who know their employees use fair hiring practices are more likely to be happier in their roles. 

TestGorilla is here to help you lead the charge. With our test library of over “400+” tests, you can bolster your skills-based hiring efforts today. Book a demo or sign up for a free account today! 

FAQs

How does wellbeing affect the workplace?

When you focus on wellbeing in your workplace and your employees have access to wellness resources and support, they’re engaged, less stressed, and more productive. In contrast, when wellbeing is overlooked or undervalued, this can lead to higher absenteeism, decreased productivity, and a decline in employee morale and job satisfaction.

What are the seven dimensions of workplace wellbeing?

The seven dimensions of workplace wellbeing are physical, emotional, social, intellectual, occupational, environmental, and spiritual. These can vary depending on who you ask – for instance, some sources consider financial wellbeing to be one of the seven dimensions.

What percentage of employers in the US implement wellness programs?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the larger the company, the more likely they are to have a wellness program: 

• 39% of companies with 10-24 employees have wellness programs

• 60% of companies with 50-99 employees have wellness programs

• 92% of companies with 500+ employees have wellness programs