Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

OH service deliveryWellbeing and health promotionOccupational Health

Why poor quality data is a barrier to better workplace health and wellbeing

by Personnel Today 7 Feb 2020
by Personnel Today 7 Feb 2020

The fact HR professionals too often have little faith in their people data can derail employee or organisational health and wellbeing initiatives, argues Damian Oldham. OH practitioners need to be working hand in hand with HR to effectively evidence, measure and interrogate what is and isn’t making a difference within their organisations.

It should come as no surprise to occupational health practitioners that workplace health and wellbeing was one of the most important HR trends for around a third of the industry professionals we interviewed at last summer’s Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development “Festival of Work”.

While sickness absence is costly for any organisation, we all know that presenteeism is also on the rise, which, left unchecked, can severely affect an individual’s productivity, career and long-term health.

About the author

Damian Oldham is divisional director at HR technology specialist Access Group

Delegates from the Festival of Work no doubt returned to their workplaces brimming with ideas for new initiatives that would support employees’ physical, mental and financial health in 2020.

Yet, before jumping in feet first and designing policies based on the latest trends, a word of warning – almost 60% of those we surveyed also said they had little or no confidence in their people data, while another 10% cited people data as their biggest workplace challenge.

Inconsistent, out-of-date data

Even though many organisations have made huge strides in recognising, and successfully tackling, the causes or poor mental and physical health, some continue to be held back by inconsistent, out-of-date and generally inaccurate people data.

We wouldn’t implement other business strategies without strong evidence – so why is HR so often unable to access the right information to ensure return on investment (ROI) on its health and wellbeing activities?

When decisions lack evidence, the danger is they will fail to gain traction with the workforce. For example, you might assume gym memberships or meditation will alleviate stress and improve overall health.

In fact, most employees would prefer flexible working to make their morning commute or the school run less stressful. On top of this, gym memberships and meditation can be costly, especially in a big organisation, but flexible working is free.

Right digital tools

HR professionals need the digital tools that will allow them to manage the “employee journey” within their organisation. This is the case whether we’re talking about using data from one-to-one sessions and appraisals, training and development objectives or health and wellbeing problems employees have faced, such as illness, absence or bereavement.

Working in HR today is all about adding value to business strategies. As custodians of people data, HR plays a key role in the strategic direction of the organisation, as well as ensuring it meets its employment law obligations.

Therefore the message for occupational health practitioners wanting to work effectively with HR has to be that, if health and wellbeing initiatives are to engage employees and deliver expected ROI, they must be firmly rooted in a single set of up-to-date data, available across a company-wide platform and comparable year-on-year.

This is as true of health and wellbeing as it is of any other HR policy.

Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
Getting your head around cancer – mental health and returning to work post-cancer
next post
How apprenticeships can revitalise businesses

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Home working enabled more with arthritis to stay...

28 Jun 2022

Third expect no access to mental health support...

28 Jun 2022

Lack of sick pay forcing two-thirds to work...

27 Jun 2022

Cost of living could lead to ‘pandemic sized’...

27 Jun 2022

Thousands unable to access local stop-smoking support

27 Jun 2022

Managers unsure how best to support cancer return...

24 Jun 2022

Employers urged to offer fast-track long Covid support

24 Jun 2022

Health interventions seen as unimportant by employees: research

23 Jun 2022

Finding answers to OH’s capacity conundrum

22 Jun 2022

NHS England launches growing occupational health and wellbeing...

21 Jun 2022

  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more
  • Strathclyde Business School expands its Degree Apprenticeship offer in England PROMOTED | The University of Strathclyde is expanding its programmes...Read more
  • The Search for Talent: Six Major Employer Pitfalls PROMOTED | The Great Resignation continues unabated...Read more
  • Navigating the widening “Skills Confidence Gap” in 2022, and beyond PROMOTED | Cornerstone OnDemand conducted a global study...Read more
  • Apprenticeships are the solution to your recruitment problems PROMOTED | Apprenticeships have the pulling power...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today