ROI Vs VOI: Which Is Best for Measuring Wellbeing Investment

Let's face it — measuring how well workplace wellness programmes work isn't always straightforward.

The debate between Return on Investment (ROI) and Value on Investment (VOI) is more than academic. It shapes how boards allocate resources, how programmes are designed, and ultimately, how effective they are.

ROI asks: 'For every pound we spend, how many pounds do we get back?' It's clean, it's quantifiable, and it's what boards want to see. Reduced absenteeism, lower turnover, improved productivity — these can be measured.

But VOI asks a different question: 'What is the broader value this creates?' Improved morale, stronger culture, better decision-making, enhanced reputation. These are harder to quantify but often more significant.

The reality is that the best wellbeing strategies need both. Use ROI to make the business case to the board. Use VOI to tell the story of cultural transformation. One gets you funded; the other builds lasting change.

In my board advisory work, I help organizations build measurement frameworks that satisfy financial governance while capturing the human value that ultimately drives sustainable performance.