The biggest mistake HR leaders make when pitching new benefits to their CFO

If HR wants a CFO to sign off on a new wellness program, “making employees happier” is rarely enough.

Finance leaders want the business case: what it costs, what it replaces, and how it will pay off. That’s the message BambooHR CFO Justin Judd has for HR executives making the pitch. A happier workforce may be a worthy goal, he says, but it is not enough on its own.

“The piece that has to come along with it is: Bring me the business case,” says Judd.

One way HR leaders can build credibility with finance is by showing they understand tradeoffs. Rather than simply asking for new wellness spending, Judd advises them to identify which existing initiatives are not delivering value, suggest where cuts could be made, and make a clear case for why a new program deserves investment.

That means going beyond the headline cost. CFOs want to see measurable return: whether a program could improve employee health, reduce absenteeism,........

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