The Real Cost of Employee Burnout (And the ROI of Doing Something About It)

The conversation about workplace wellness has shifted from "is this worth doing" to "why haven't we done this sooner." The data is unambiguous: burnout is expensive. Prevention is cheaper.

The Four Cost Buckets

• Turnover: Replacing an employee costs 50–200% of their annual salary. High-skill, high-trust roles at the top of that range.
• Absenteeism: Burned-out employees take an average of 15 more sick days per year than non-burned-out colleagues
• Presenteeism: Employees showing up while burned out cost more in lost productivity than absenteeism - estimates suggest 57% of productivity loss is presenteeism
• Healthcare utilization: Burnout-related conditions (cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, immune dysfunction) directly increase healthcare claims

The Prevention Math

A high-quality coaching program costs a fraction of one turnover event. If a $120,000/year employee leaves due to burnout, the replacement cost is $60,000–$240,000. A comprehensive coaching engagement - at $3,000–6,000 per person - that reduces burnout risk and improves retention by even one employee per year generates a 10–40x return.

That math doesn't include the value of better decisions, improved team culture, reduced sick days, or the leadership development that coaching provides. It's just the turnover calculation.