Adapted from the webinar “From Risk to ROI—Showing the Value of Ergonomics to Leadership“
In today’s fast-paced business environment, proving the value of ergonomics to leadership has become a strategic priority. As organizations face mounting pressures, from productivity and compliance demands to rising healthcare costs and an aging workforce, ergonomics has evolved beyond compliance and comfort. It’s now about business performance.
Forward-thinking organizations know that good ergonomics can really boost safety, productivity, and employee well-being. When done right, it strengthens culture and contributes directly to business results.
Here are 10 proven ways to demonstrate the business value of ergonomics to leadership—and position it as a true driver of organizational success.
1. Align Ergonomics with Business Objectives
Start with strategy. Review your company’s business objectives and show where ergonomics adds measurable value. If leadership is focused on productivity, quality, or retention, link ergonomic improvements directly to those goals. Speaking the same language as leadership helps make the case for your initiative.
2. Understand Leadership Dynamics
Know your audience before you present. Pay attention to how your leadership team communicates and tailor your presentation to match their styles and preferences.
According to the DiSC personality assessment tool, a Dominant/Intuitive leader values big-picture thinking and quick results, while a Steady/Functional communicator prefers clear processes and step-by-step logic. An Influential/Personal leader responds to stories and relationships, whereas a Compliant/Analytical communicator focuses on data, precision, and proven outcomes.
By observing their decision-making behaviors and overall group dynamics, you can frame your message in a way that connects with what matters most to them. When ergonomics aligns with their priorities and communication preferences, your message will resonate more effectively.
3. Use Data to Tell a Story
Data alone doesn’t inspire action—context and connection do. Present data in a way that tells a compelling story. Highlight the business impact of ergonomics, such as cost savings, productivity improvements, and employee retention. Use visuals like charts and graphs to make the data more engaging and easier to understand.
4. Leverage Real-World Examples
Leadership responds to evidence. Share case studies and examples from other organizations which demonstrate the tangible benefits of ergonomics. For instance, a large manufacturer reduced recordable injuries by more than 40% through targeted ergonomic investments—improving both safety and employee morale. Another organization redesigned workflows and optimized workstations to increase productivity and even launched new product lines without adding headcount.
Examples like these help leadership see what success can look like inside your own organization.
5. Show Financial ROI
Translate ergonomics into financial language. Highlight the financial return on investment (ROI) of ergonomics initiatives. For example, organizations that have redesigned work processes through ergonomic improvements have reported turnover reductions of 40–50%, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. When leadership sees ergonomics delivering measurable ROI, it shifts from a cost center to a strategic investment.
6. Link Ergonomics to Quality and Capacity
Ergonomics is a quality strategy as much as a safety one. Demonstrate how ergonomics can improve product quality. As an example, improving workstation design helps reduce errors and waste, leading to higher product quality, greater customer satisfaction, and better business outcomes.
7. Highlight Employee Retention
Retention is one of the most overlooked outcomes of good ergonomics. When employees feel supported, physically and psychologically, they stay longer and perform better. Highlight the link between ergonomics and employee satisfaction, which can lead to lower turnover rates.
8. Promote Ergonomics Within ESG and Social Responsibility
Investing in ergonomics sends a clear message: your company puts people first. It aligns with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals, supports diversity, and aging workforce initiatives. This can enhance your brand and attract customers and investors. Emphasize how ergonomics aligns with your company’s commitment to social responsibility.
9. Prepare for Objections
Anticipate potential objections and prepare responses. Engage with champions and skeptics within your organization to refine your approach and strengthen your case. Addressing objections proactively can help you build a stronger argument and gain support from key stakeholders.
10. Present with Confidence
When it’s time to present, clarity and confidence matter as much as data. Rehearse your presentation and be ready to answer questions confidently. Use positive, forward-focused language and close with a clear recommendation. Confidence in your delivery can make a significant difference in securing leadership support.
When you align your initiatives with company priorities and can demonstrate the potential impact on business results through a data-driven lens, you not only gain C-suite support—you set the stage for successful execution.
The Bottom Line
Proving the value of ergonomics isn’t about finding new data—it’s about reframing the conversation. These strategies can strengthen your case to leadership and increase the likelihood of securing support for your initiatives.
Watch the full session to hear directly from the experts and see real-world examples in action.
Source: Allen, J., and Rhody, T.L. “From Risk to ROI: Showing the Value of Ergonomics to Leadership.” Fit For Work + VelocityEHS Webinar, August 6, 2025.
Meet the Experts
Josiah Allen, CPE, CSP
Senior Solutions Consultant, VelocityEHS
Josiah facilitates the program development and deployment of Ergonomics and Risk Management solutions. Josiah has experience implementing ergonomics processes across global organizations, performing musculoskeletal disorder risk assessments, and redesigning workspaces to enable employees to work within their capabilities while maximizing output. Prior to joining full-time, Josiah worked at Amazon as a Health and Safety Specialist, where he solved ergonomics issues and implemented safety-related initiatives.
Josiah received a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He has achieved recognition as a Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
Terri Leigh Rhody, MBA
Vice President of Marketing, Fit For Work
Having lost her dad to glioblastoma in her mid-twenties, Terri Leigh has been drawn to work for organizations that have a meaningful impact upon the healthcare continuum – from prevention to treatment – and a focus on their employees. Throughout her 25+ years in marketing and communications leadership roles, she and her teams have focused on delivering value through a cross-organizational customer-centric approach.
Prior to joining Fit For Work, Terri Leigh has led marketing at start-ups (Sware, Moxe), hypergrowth companies (Epic, Forte Research), and long-established stalwarts (GE Healthcare, Covance/Labcorp).
She received her Bachelor of Arts with a major in communications and minor in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
