Wellness is often seen as a "soft" expense. The numbers tell a different story: stress and turnover are already costing you money, even if they don't appear under that name in the budget.
The cost of stress
The World Health Organization estimates that work-related health problems represent an economic loss of between 4% and 6% of GDP in most countries. Burnout and absenteeism are part of that silent bill.
The cost of replacing talent
Replacing an employee is estimated at close to 150% of their annual salary —and up to 250% for executive positions— once you add recruiting, training, and lost productivity. Retention is almost always cheaper than replacement.
The other side of the equation
Against those costs, biophilic interventions show measurable returns. Research from Terrapin Bright Green estimates that organizations can save around $2,000 per employee per year just from reduced absenteeism. Add in the effect on productivity (+6%) and retention, and the business case stops being "soft."
How it's measured at your company
With a pilot and the right methodology, you can compare wellness, climate, and absenteeism before and after, and calculate your own return based on real data, not promises.
Calculate your return with a pilot. Request information.
Sources
World Health Organization (4–6% of GDP loss); Terrapin Bright Green, Economics of Biophilia (2nd ed., 2023, ~$2,000/employee/year); turnover cost estimate (~150% of salary).