Increasing evidence suggests that money can buy happiness and wellbeing, but only to a point.

Workplace wellbeing, it seems, can not be bought simply by increasing salaries alone.

Recent studies suggest that there could be a peak salary at which people are more likely to feel satisfied with their jobs or have emotional wellbeing in their life.

Whilst we may expect for employees to feel better the more money they are paid, recent research shows that there may be a cap to the additional benefit a salary rise or bonus could create. Whilst still higher than the average person’s wage, it’s now suggested that job satisfaction comes in, on average, at a cost of 95,000 dollars (around £67,500) and peak emotional wellbeing costing between 65,000 and 75,000 dollars a year (between £46000 and £53000).  Similarly, it is suggested that workplace wellbeing may not necessarily be as closely related to salary as one may initially expect.

Workplace wellbeing: Other factors may be more important than money

Some suggest that other factors might be much more important than money. These can include equality in pay as well as general ergonomics or outlook within a company’s structure or environment.

Similarly, there is increasing commentary to suggest that what happens outside of work can also affect wellbeing inside of work. Given the statistics on work related musculoskeletal issues that occur in business each year and the cost of these on businesses, focussing in on the mental and physical wellbeing of their workforce in general may be money well spent, even if return on investment may not be quite as direct or immediate as one might hope. Least of all, it’s good to do something before one persons lack of wellbeing spreads and your whole workforce become less productive due to avoidable aches, pains or restrictions