By Holly Baxter
Workplace well-being can often be dismissed as a “check-the-box” initiative — a seasonal meditation class or a one-off wellness newsletter. However, ignoring its true value carries a high cost: the U.S. economy is estimated to lose $47.6 billion annually due to workplace productivity loss associated with poor well-being.
Comprehensive workplace well-being is much broader, addressing the entire employee experience — from preventing burnout to supporting physical well-being through office ergonomics and evolved cleanliness expectations since COVID-19. Recognizing that these discomforts can amplify stress and fatigue, this approach reinforces mental and physical resilience.
Because of this wide scope, well-being is, quite simply, business infrastructure. In fact, 76% of employers report that their well-being programs are effective in improving organizational retention.
Staples Business, a leader in workplace well-being solutions, advises that businesses can drive measurable gains in retention, productivity and ROI by prioritizing a three-pillar well-being model that centers physical comfort, cleanliness and a culture of care. Ahead, discover how prioritizing all three areas ensures a comprehensive plan, measurable rewards and operational success for wellness strategies.
The Three Well-Being Pillars Of A Thriving Workforce
Employees who feel engaged at work and who believe their well-being is prioritized by their organization are 59% less likely to look for a new job. Given this critical link to talent retention, leaders should understand what a truly successful well-being strategy looks like in practice. Here’s how Staples Business’s three-pillar strategy delivers:
Physical Comfort: The Ergonomic Foundation
Workplace comfort extends beyond a new office chair. Staples Business advises that high-performing organizations approach it as a systems challenge: ergonomically optimized workstations, posture-friendly technology and workflow designs that encourage healthy movement throughout the day.
Research shows that ergonomic interventions can deliver up to a 17:1 return on investment, and one field study found that equipping employees with ergonomic chairs and training boosted productivity by nearly 18%. Neglecting ergonomics, by contrast, is costly: musculoskeletal disorders alone have been reported to account for $20 billion per year in direct employer expenses.
In hybrid workplaces, the comfort challenge becomes more complex. Portable ergonomic products, virtual training and digital posture reminders are increasingly essential for ensuring consistent standards across both in-office and remote setups.
Workplace Cleanliness: The Productivity Multiplier
The pandemic permanently raised expectations around workplace cleanliness, air quality and disease prevention. Today, visible sanitation protocols and high-quality air filtration are no longer optional; they’re table stakes. And ultimately, that’s good news for employees and employers.
The payoff is high: implementing structured hygiene protocols has been reported to reduce employee sickness absences by up to 27%. Enhanced ventilation and air quality are also linked to higher cognitive performance, which could impact productivity. And in a competitive talent market, “clean workspace” branding is a differentiator. Employees — and potential recruits — notice when organizations visibly commit to health and hygiene.
Culture Of Care: The Morale And Retention Connection
Perhaps the most powerful pillar is culture. A workplace that fosters care, openness and inclusion signals to employees that they are valued as whole people.
The numbers speak for themselves: 92% of workers say it’s important to them to work for an organization that values their emotional and psychological well-being. Indeed, employees who are engaged and have high well-being miss 70% fewer workdays due to poor health over the course of a year.
Staples Business recommends that core elements of a strong culture of care include leadership modeling, inclusive programs (such as resilience training and peer support groups) and formal integration of well-being into manager goals and feedback cycles. When organizations take these steps, they can expect to protect both morale and the bottom line.
Why Prioritizing All Three Pillars Matters
Companies that roll out isolated initiatives or one-off programs might wonder why the impact is minimal. The reality is that fragmented efforts don’t go as far as integrated, comprehensive initiatives. Plus, employees are the ultimate judges, and can tell whether their employers take their well-being seriously or treat it more like a tick-box exercise.
That’s why integration is the key. When physical comfort, cleanliness and culture are addressed in tandem and leadership is aligned, organizations can unlock the full business benefits. Comprehensive well-being initiatives have been reported to return $6 for every $1 spent, with absenteeism costs falling by $2.73 for each dollar devoted to enhancing employee welfare.
Beyond financial ROI, organizations can stand to gain recruitment advantages, higher employee Net Promoter Scores and stronger brand reputations. Accredited WELL or LEED certifications, for example, can be decisive in winning RFPs and attracting partners who increasingly demand higher well-being standards in their supply chains.
Operationalizing Wellness: From Concept To Strategy
While the benefits of prioritizing workplace well-being are clear, implementation can be complex. Budget considerations, cultural resistance and hybrid workforces add logistical challenges. But a phased, data-driven approach can overcome these barriers and build momentum. Staples Business recommends a four-phase framework:
- Assessment & Foundation: Survey employees, analyze costs, secure executive buy-in
- Core Launch: Roll out baseline supports such as educational how-to guides and resources for employees, ergonomic upgrades and structured hygiene protocols
- Enhancement & Personalization: Use employee feedback to personalize wellness programs and build peer support and well-being communities
- Integration & Optimization: Embed well-being metrics into business dashboards, align programs with company strategy and scale successful pilots
Even with a structured framework, leaders may face several obstacles, including upfront costs and budget constraints. Staples Business advises starting small—piloting targeted, scalable programs that demonstrate quick, measurable returns, such as reduced absenteeism or fewer injury claims. A good starting point could be to connect with experts, such as Staples Business, for a complementary consultation and assessment to help identify workplace gaps, simplify integration and recommend tailored solutions. These consultations can also identify cost-saving opportunities and provide ongoing support to ensure long-term impact.
Establishing clear success metrics and implementing KPIs across locations and job roles helps track absenteeism, employee satisfaction and engagement to build a business case for continued investment and long-term scalability.
Leaders may also face change resistance. Involving employees early through focus groups or surveys, sharing success stories and ensuring authentic leadership modeling can drive participation and sustain momentum.
Finally, hybrid work adds a layer of complexity. Remote ergonomic products, digital training and support tools and standardized hygiene practices can help create consistency and ensure safe, equitable experiences across all work environments.
By anticipating these barriers and addressing them proactively, organizations transform workplace well-being from an abstract goal into a measurable business advantage.
How Staples Business Can Help
For organizations ready to move from theory to action, Staples Business can help leaders create the kind of workplaces where well-being and performance grow hand-in-hand.
Staples Business provides essential tools — such as ergonomic solutions, hygiene systems and workplace design expertise — alongside a strategic partnership that helps organizations elevate employee well-being. From initial consultation to enterprise-wide implementation, Staples Business helps leaders transform employee well-being into a durable competitive advantage and a cornerstone of long-term business performance.
This sustained, organization-wide transformation requires commitment and cross-department collaboration. But the rewards — higher retention, lower costs and improved performance — speak for themselves. For forward-thinking organizations, the future of work is already here, powered by people who are supported, valued and inspired.