Adriana Curca, CBI Economics Manager, shares insights on how employers can take a more proactive, data-driven approach to wellbeing.
Key takeaways
- £56 billion: the cost each year of poor mental health on UK employers
- £28 billion: how much presenteeism accounts for every year
- For every £1 spent on mental health interventions, businesses can see up to £5 in return through reduced absence, presenteeism, and turnover.
At a time when economic inactivity due to ill health has hit record highs, the case for prioritising employee wellbeing has never been stronger. Over 2.8 million people in the UK are currently out of work due to long-term sickness - many with mental health conditions. But the hidden cost runs deeper. Presenteeism, where employees are physically present but unwell and underperforming, is a major drag on productivity and morale.
Deloitte estimates that poor mental health costs UK employers up to £56 billion per year - with presenteeism accounting for the largest share, at up to £28 billion annually. That's more than the combined cost of sickness absence and staff turnover.
That's why I was delighted to join a panel at Anthropy 2025 at the Eden Project, alongside experts from Calm, SimplyHealth, and Centrica, to explore how employers can take a more proactive, data-driven approach to wellbeing.
My contribution focused on the link between employee wellbeing and business performance. The evidence is clear: organisations that invest in strategic wellbeing programmes see measurable benefits, from reduced sickness absence to improved retention and productivity. But to make the most of these investments, businesses need to go beyond one-off surveys or ad-hoc initiatives.
One of the biggest gaps we see is in how wellbeing is measured. Too often, organisations treat wellbeing data in isolation - separate from HR metrics, performance indicators, and financial data. That means they may miss early warning signs or struggle to make the business case for further investment.
At CBI Economics, we help organisations develop bespoke frameworks to measure and monitor wellbeing in a way that aligns with their business strategy. By identifying where interventions are needed most - and where they're already delivering value - leaders can make smarter decisions and secure buy-in at board level.
The return on investment is significant. Research suggests that for every £1 spent on mental health interventions, businesses can see up to £5 in return through reduced absence, presenteeism, and turnover.
Ultimately, wellbeing isn't a 'nice-to-have'-it's a productivity tool, a retention strategy, and a competitive advantage. And if measured effectively, it becomes a powerful lever for business growth.
If you're looking to understand the true impact of wellbeing on your organisation and how to measure it meaningfully, CBI Economics can support you on that journey.
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