Workplace Wellbeing Hub: Data Collection & Analytics

Use Data to Create a Safer Workplace

Knowing how your organization is performing is foundational to creating a safe, healthy and resilient workplace. Collecting the right information helps employers identify risks early, prioritize actions and track whether wellbeing initiatives are making a real difference. When data is used thoughtfully, it becomes a powerful tool for guiding decisions, strengthening safety culture and improving employee experiences across the organization.

Collecting data, however, requires intention and care. Employees may have concerns about how information will be used or whether it is truly confidential. For data collection to be effective, workers must feel psychologically safe and confident that their input will not lead to negative consequences. Creating trust, clearly communicating the purpose of data collection and sharing how results will be used are critical steps in encouraging honest participation and meaningful insights.

Data can be gathered from many sources, including HR systems, safety reports, workers’ compensation programs, benefits utilization, training records and employee feedback tools. When combined, these sources provide a full picture of how work is being experienced across the organization. Reviewing data consistently, not just once, helps identify patterns, monitor progress and guide decisions over time.

Things to keep in mind:

● Define what you want to learn: Make sure what you measure connects directly to what you want to understand and improve

● Focus on meaningful categories: Consider areas such as attendance and retention, employee health and wellbeing, engagement and workplace practices

● Use multiple methods: Collect information through surveys, focus groups, interviews and existing organizational data

● Segment thoughtfully: Organize data by role, department, shift or location to spot patterns and risk

● Protect confidentiality: Ensure privacy and communicate how data will be protected and reported

● Create psychological safety: Encourage feedback by reinforcing that honest input will not lead to retaliation

● Review regularly: Track changes over time to understand trends and measure progress

● Share results: Communicate findings and planned actions so employees see the value of participating

● Turn insight into action: Use what you learn to inform policy updates, training priorities and resource investments

This page provides practical tools, templates and examples employers can use to collect, analyze and apply workplace wellbeing data across different focus areas. Resources support organizations in building simple, effective measurement approaches that strengthen safety culture, support workers, and guide continuous improvement.

Comprehensive Data Collection and Analysis

Attendance and Longevity

Health, Wellbeing and Engagement

Workplace Practices

Risk-specific Data Collection and Analysis

Mental Health

Evaluating mental health in the workplace is essential for understanding employee needs, identifying risk areas and measuring the effectiveness of your organization’s wellbeing efforts. When organizations collect and analyze mental health-related data thoughtfully and responsibly, they gain insight into where employees are struggling, which supports are working and where improvements are needed. Strong evaluation practices help employers move from assumptions to evidence-based decisions that strengthen safety culture and employee wellbeing.

Some key areas to consider when developing a mental health evaluation approach include:

Employee engagement and climate survey responses
Absenteeism, presenteeism and turnover trends
EAP utilization and referral data
Workers’ compensation claims related to stress or mental health
Training participation and completion rates
Psychological safety and workplace culture indicators
Return-to-work and accommodation requests

While many organizations collect some mental health-related data, fewer use it in a coordinated or strategic way. Data may exist across HR, safety, benefits and operations but remain siloed or underutilized. Aligning data collection with organizational goals, protecting confidentiality and routinely reviewing findings can help employers translate information into action and build a more supportive, responsive workplace.

Take Action Using These NSC Resources

Safety Professionals Quick Guide to Workplace Mental Health Program Evaluation: A practical guide designed to help safety professionals assess and measure the effectiveness of workplace mental health initiatives
Mental Health Cost Calculator: Interactive tool that helps employers estimate the financial impact of employee mental health challenges on their organization; helps organizations quantify costs related to absenteeism, turnover and productivity loss and identify opportunities for preventative investment

Mental Health Program Evaluation - Case Study Series

City of Memphis, Tennessee: Embedding Mental Health into Municipal Safety - Public-sector case study showing how a municipal safety program integrated mental health into daily operations, benefits design and measurement through EAP reporting, return-to-duty tracking and leadership dashboards
City of Houston: A Data-Driven Mental Health and Wellness Program - Large-city example of using EAP utilization, claims data and department-level reporting to monitor risk, guide prevention strategies and connect mental health trends with safety, absenteeism and return-to-work outcomes

Mental Health Program Evaluation & How to Measure

Global Safety Index’s Mental Health Index (MHI): Assess your workplace’s mental health literacy and positivity across key cultural and organizational dimensions to understand risks, inform strategy and support mental wellbeing with actionable insights from a data-driven benchmarking dashboard
APA Foundation's Workplace Depression Cost Calculator: Estimate the financial impact of depression on your workforce and make the business case for mental health supports
Mental Health at Work Index™: Track trends in workforce mental health and compare results to national benchmarks
Workplace Assessment Tools (Healthywork.org): Explore assessment methods to evaluate organizational wellbeing, culture and employee mental health
SHRM's Workplace Mental Health Field Guide: Access practical guidance and best practices for designing and implementing workplace mental health programs

Substance Use and Recovery

Evaluating substance use and recovery in the workplace is critical for identifying risks, supporting employees and understanding how well prevention and recovery efforts are working. When organizations collect and analyze substance-related data thoughtfully and responsibly, they gain insight into patterns of risk, barriers to care and the effectiveness of policies, programs and benefits. Strong evaluation practices help employers move beyond reactive responses and toward proactive, data-informed strategies that protect safety, support recovery and promote a healthier workforce.

When developing a substance use and recovery evaluation approach, consider:

Drug testing program trends (where applicable)
Overdose incidents, near misses and safety events associated with impairment
Absenteeism, turnover and productivity indicators linked to substance misuse-related issues
Use of EAP, treatment referrals and recovery-related benefits
Workers’ compensation claims involving substance misuse-related injuries
Training participation for impairment prevention and supervisor education
Utilization of peer support, recovery programs or employee resource groups
Return-to-work data following treatment or recovery-related leave

While many organizations collect substance misuse-related data in isolation, fewer use it in a coordinated or strategic way. Information may be housed separately across HR, safety, benefits and occupational health systems without a unified view of risk or recovery outcomes. Aligning data with prevention goals, maintaining confidentiality and routinely reviewing trends can help employers turn data into meaningful action and build a workplace culture that prioritizes safety, recovery and long-term wellbeing.

Take Action Using NSC Resources

Be prepared to respond to an opioid overdose emergency. Use the Overdose Emergency Planning Tool to determine the recommended amount of naloxone for your workplace.

Use the NSC Substance Use Cost Calculator to estimate the hidden costs of workplace substance misuse use including turnover, productivity loss and safety incidents so you can make informed decisions about prevention, support and recovery programs.

The links provided throughout the Hub are for informational purposes and to supplement the information we have provided. Links not affiliated with NSC do not constitute an endorsement or an approval of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. NSC bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.

Data Collection and Analysis