It seems common sense that investing in wellness and other workforce health strategies would be worth all the money and effort that employers are putting into them these days. But what is the actual evidence that there’s a return on investment? It’s wise to have a certain amount of skepticism about the vague promises we hear from various program vendors. Also important, different employers have different situations and needs — how do you determine if the strategies you are employing are making a positive difference for your organization?

Thomas Wilson, PhD, DrPH, an independent epidemiologist specializing in the design, evaluation, and science-based improvement of population health programs provides insights and perspectives on answering these questions.