Perks are great. But if you can’t measure their impact, they risk becoming nice-to-haves instead of need-to-haves. That’s why measuring well-being matters. It helps prove what’s working, improve what isn’t, and communicate value to leadership.

Whether you’re rolling out a new hydration station, piloting mental health days, or simply encouraging healthier habits, tracking the right signals makes all the difference.

Define Success Early: What Are You Actually Trying to Improve?

Before you track anything, get clear on what “better” looks like. Are you trying to reduce stress? Boost energy? Encourage connection?

Defining success early gives you a filter for what to measure and how to communicate it. Maybe that means aiming for fewer sick days, more hydration moments, or even more thank-you messages between colleagues.

This links back to the basics. If your goal is to improve everyday wellbeing, start with simple but meaningful practices. A refresher? Check out 5 Tips for Improving Employee Wellbeing.

The KPIs of Wellness

Wellbeing can feel fuzzy, but it doesn’t have to be. Some of the most meaningful workplace health indicators already exist in your systems. Try tracking:

• eNPS (employee Net Promoter Score): Measures how likely employees are to recommend your company

• Absenteeism: Frequent sick days can signal burnout or disengagement

• Engagement scores: Regular pulse surveys provide clues on energy, focus, and connection

• Water usage per machine: If you’ve got a hydration setup like Aquablu, usage data can show how often people are refueling

That last one? It’s easy to overlook, but powerful. If you want to dive deeper into hydration’s influence on performance, check out Why Workplace Hydration Matters More Than You Think.

Feedback Loops and Quick Wins

Measurement doesn’t have to be a six-month strategy. Sometimes the best insights come from simple check-ins and real-time feedback.

Try:

• Quick pulse polls about energy levels, stress, or break routines

• Anonymous feedback about what wellness initiatives are helpful

• Slack shoutouts or digital boards for sharing healthy habits

Even your hydration data can serve as a feedback loop. Pairing water usage with how people feel during the workday brings context to your data. If you're trying to encourage more consistent water intake, you'll find tips in How to Encourage Employees to Drink More Water.

Tell the Story, Not Just the Stats

Data shows trends. Stories show impact. If water usage is up 60%, what does that mean for your team? Are people skipping soda? Feeling more alert?

Pair every big number with a human insight. A quote from a team lead. A culture shift you’ve observed. Or even a “before-and-after” snapshot.

One story we often see? Employees who feel more energized when they’re eating better and staying hydrated throughout the day. Curious how food fits into the picture? Fueling Focus: The Overlooked Role of Nutrition at Work explores how nutrition complements hydration to boost performance.

How to Show ROI for Hydration and Wellness Perks

It’s one thing to roll out a perk. It’s another to connect it to business value.

To link hydration and wellbeing to outcomes:

• Compare absenteeism or energy survey data before and after implementation

• Track water usage and pair with anecdotal stories (like “I’ve cut back on coffee” or “I actually finish my water bottle now”)

• Collect testimonials from teams who feel the impact

Aquablu also offers an Impact Report, showing how many plastic bottles your dispenser has saved, an easy way to link hydration to both health and sustainability outcomes.

Need a proof point that wellness drives loyalty? How Workplace Hydration Impacts Employee Retention & Satisfaction shows how small daily details add up to long-term culture wins.

Final Thought: Make What Matters Measurable

You don’t need a massive dashboard to start tracking wellbeing. You just need clear goals, meaningful signals, and a willingness to evolve.

One of the easiest places to start? Hydration. It’s a daily habit, a wellness signal, and a culture cue — all in one. With Aquablu’s hydration stations, you not only support focus and energy, you also get usage data and an Impact Report that shows exactly how many plastic bottles you’re saving.

Wellbeing becomes visible. And when it’s visible, it becomes strategic.

→ Explore Aquablu’s Flavored Water Dispenser, Refill+