This week’s issue focuses on how the priorities of employers are evolving in the wake of COVID-19 and the significant role data plays toward ensuring the effectiveness of workplace wellbeing and mental health programmes as times remain uncertain ahead for employees.
Karl Simons, Chief Health, Safety and Wellbeing Officer of Thames Water shared with us in an exclusive interview the three key components necessary to shift a workforce to a culture of care; how Thames Water uses data to guide their ongoing strategy and how the UK utilities company is creating a ripple effect influencing other sectors to invest in and benchmark wellbeing programmes.
In Make a Difference News’ fourth COVID-19 virtual roundtable our own Claire Farrow was joined by a stellar group of leaders. They discussed shifting pressures employers are facing in supporting staff through the ongoing pandemic and the specific role data plays in guiding their wellbeing programmes. Valuable insights from John Lewis Partnership, GSK, Thames Water, Co-op as well as Dame Carol Black and former Health Minister Sir Norman Lamb.
In order to have the most robust and effective data to inform a mental wellbeing strategy, Red Umbrella’s Tim Ladd makes the case that it needs to come direct from the employees. Ladd argues the data should be driven by the MHFAiders, who are on the front-line supporting staff.
Gathering data from companies using digital wellbeing tools through COVID-19 has revealed helpful trends in the experiences of workers. Digital wellbeing app Unmind shares predictions from their community of leaders on what the future of workplace mental health and wellbeing will look like.
Co-op, the largest consumer co-operative in the UK, outlines in a case study how investing in wellbeing data analysis has helped the organisation to identify and prioritise support for the most pressing wellbeing issues their 63,000-person workforce is facing.
Finally, new data released from Mental Health America reveals that more than 165,000 Americans have self-screened for depression or anxiety since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how self-screening and self-care can be helpful tools for ourselves and our loved ones when faced with access to care challenges.
We hope you find this week’s issue enjoyable and valuable!
Well wishes,
Heather Kelly
Online Editor, Make a Difference News
