Most organisations today invest in employee wellbeing.
Whether it’s an employee assistance programme, a wellbeing platform, awareness campaigns or mental health training, supporting employee wellbeing has become an essential part of modern workplace culture.
But there is one question many employers still struggle to answer:
How do you know whether your wellbeing investment is actually making a difference?
It is relatively easy to measure participation. It’s much harder to measure impact.
Yet understanding that impact has never been more important. There is no shortage of statistics showing the cost of poor mental health to employers. Locally, the Guernsey and Alderney Wellbeing Survey 2023 found that 48.6% of people in work or education reported that their work often or always causes them stress or anxiety.
However, when organisations can clearly see the difference support is making, wellbeing moves beyond being a standalone initiative and becomes part of a wider business strategy that people understand, value and can act on.
Much of that value comes from improved productivity. Many employees continue to attend work while dealing with challenges that affect their focus, confidence, resilience and overall performance. The cost of people being present but unable to perform at their best can be significant, yet it often remains hidden.
That’s why measuring outcomes, not just activity, is so important.
Moving beyond good intentions
At Guernsey Mind, we developed WorkWell to provide practical, early support for employees experiencing workplace challenges before those challenges develop into more serious problems.
WorkWell offers confidential one-to-one sessions with trained practitioners, helping people navigate issues such as workplace stress, conflict, work-life balance, imposter syndrome, retirement planning, resilience and organisational change using a series of evidence-based resources and workbooks. The aim is to provide practical support that helps people stay engaged and productive at work.
Available to organisations across Guernsey and the wider Bailiwick, WorkWell offers a proactive approach to workplace wellbeing that helps prevent issues from escalating while encouraging a more positive outlook on work and life.
How the Programme Works
Employees accessing WorkWell receive confidential one-to-one support from a trained Guernsey Mind practitioner, including:
One 60-minute introductory session
Two 25-minute follow-up sessions
Sessions can take place at the workplace, online or at the Lions Mind Centre opposite the Fire Station. Organisations purchase credits for their teams and Guernsey Mind manages the allocation, making access simple and confidential. A range of packages is available to suit different organisational needs.
One participant said: ‘It was useful to talk to an impartial, independent third party about difficult work matters – a sounding board completely unconnected to my workplace. That was exactly what I needed.’
Measuring what matters
From the outset, our aim was not only to provide support but also to understand whether that support was creating meaningful change.
Every WorkWell participant completes two clinically validated assessment tools at the start and end of their support journey:
GAD-7, which measures anxiety levels
SWEMWBS, which measures mental wellbeing
This enables us to move beyond anecdotal feedback and gather evidence of impact.
Employers don’t simply hear that participants found the programme useful. They can see measurable changes in wellbeing outcomes.
Importantly, all reporting is fully anonymised. Employers receive aggregated results showing overall changes in anxiety and wellbeing, without any information that could identify individual participants.
This allows organisations to understand the effectiveness of their wellbeing investment while ensuring employees can engage with the service in complete confidence.
Early results
While our data is still growing, the initial results are encouraging.
Average anxiety scores reduced below the clinical threshold for mild anxiety
Wellbeing scores improved by more than double the level considered clinically meaningful
100% of participants said they would recommend WorkWell to a colleague
These early findings suggest that timely, confidential support can make a meaningful difference.
A different approach to workplace wellbeing
The early indications are clear: organisations need more than wellbeing initiatives alone. They need ways to understand whether those initiatives are creating positive, measurable change.
WorkWell provides both support and measurement, helping employers build a clearer picture of what is working and where further investment can have the greatest impact.
The question for employers is not whether employee wellbeing matters… it’s whether they can confidently demonstrate that their investment is making a measurable difference.
Interested in Learning More?
Workplace wellbeing shouldn’t be judged by how many people attend a workshop or click on a resource. It should be judged by whether it makes a meaningful difference.
If you’re looking for practical, evidence-based support that delivers measurable results, contact the Guernsey Mind team on 01481 722959, email lisa.ingrouille@guernseymind.org.gg or visit our website to find out how WorkWell could support your organisation and your employees.
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