Can you use data to improve mental health at work?

In today’s business landscape, all organisations, large or small, are surrounded by huge amounts of data. Data can be used to improve all aspects of a business’s functioning, but not all types of data are used effectively.

One type of data that is frequently underutilised is employee data. Employee data refers to any information about an organisation’s workforce, and how its workers think, feel, and act. Analysing and using employee data isn’t a new concept, but it is still infrequently done. Research has found that only 8 percent of managers report they have usable employee data.

Mental health organisation, Mente, has said that businesses can improve mental health at work by being more strategic and using employee data.

It is believed that one in four people will experience a mental health problem each year, and the cost of poor mental health to employers is believed to be between £1,205 and £1,560 per employee each year. This cost is for all employees, and not just those who are ill. Supporting the mental health of employees is good for individuals, but it has also been found to be good for business, with research finding it improves productivity and reputation, as well as reducing sickness and staff turnover.

Mel Joseph, founder and director of Mente, said “Collecting employee data is the only way to get a clear picture of how your workers are feeling. Without basing actions on data, any efforts a company makes to improve mental health will be less effective and could waste time and money.”

She went onto say that there are many different types of employee data that can be tracked. Alongside employee wellbeing surveys, businesses can measure information about productivity, sickness rates and uptake of wellbeing services, employee recruitment and retention, and company reputation.

Mente helps businesses to manage mental health. To find out more about what they do, visit www.mente.co.uk.


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About Mente

The Mente platform helps businesses to manage mental health. Contact email: info@mente.co.uk We provide mental health training, such as CPD accredited e-learning about mental health, delivered in bite-sized modules, and legislation and best-practice guides just for managers. The platform also houses diagnostic and performance tools, like a survey function and an absence calculator. We also offer direct access to licensed specialist partners, and a national directory of solutions providers.