Purpose

The Luminate Cost of Stress Calculator is designed to provide organisations with an illustrative estimate of how much workplace stress may be costing in lost productivity, absence, and turnover. It is not a financial audit, but a tool to highlight the hidden business impact of unmanaged stress and underdeveloped leadership.

Data Sources

The calculator draws on the latest UK and international research, including:

• Deloitte UK (2024–25) – Mental Health and Employers: The Case for Investment
• Gallup (2024) – State of the Global Workplace Report
• CIPD (2025) – Health and Wellbeing at Work: Absence Rates (9.4 average sick days per employee, up from 7.8 in 2023 and 5.8 in 2022)
• ONS (2024) – Labour Market Statistics and Absence Data

Key Assumptions

• Employee Numbers – total staff figures entered by the user.
• Average Salary – either user-provided or estimated from industry benchmarks.
• Absenteeism – 9.4 days per employee per year (CIPD, 2025). Cost per day of absence estimated at £237/day (Deloitte).
• Presenteeism – £1,716 per employee per year (Deloitte, 2024).
• Turnover – 12% annually, with cost per leaver estimated at £30,614 (Deloitte, 2024). Stress-related turnover assumed at up to 40% (Gallup, 2024).
• Industry Benchmarks – law, finance, and tech sectors apply higher turnover and absence multipliers, reflecting known high-pressure environments.

Limitations

• Figures are averages and estimates based on published data.
• Results are illustrative, not exact, and should not be treated as a financial audit.
• Organisation-specific factors (such as regional pay scales, benefit structures, or existing wellbeing provision) may affect actual costs.

Why It Matters

Workplace stress is not just a wellbeing issue — it is a strategic and financial risk. The calculator highlights the scale of potential hidden costs and helps organisations understand why investing in resilience and leadership capacity pays back in measurable ROI.

Next Steps

If you’d like a tailored analysis of stress costs in your organisation, based on your workforce profile and sector, Luminate can provide a customised report with actionable insights.