Interview by HR Live / HR Performa 2025 - source

Colbe, a network of specialists in health and wellbeing, is collaborating with TrueTribe, a Dutch HR-tech platform that takes a holistic and data-driven approach to wellbeing. This combination is new to the market: an ecosystem that helps organizations demonstrably improve employee wellbeing.

From scattered pieces to a continuous journey

"Wellbeing in organisations is often supported through fragmented initiatives such as a coach, an occupational health service, or a vitality platform. Everything exists in isolation," says Tomassen. "Our vision is that you need to see the entire employee journey: from arrival to departure. Connect initiatives so that people can work together safely, healthily, and enjoyably, whilst continuing to develop for sustainable employability. Harness the power of the collective—the community that employees are part of. Wellbeing shouldn't be a collection of scattered pieces, but a continuous employee journey."

Happy, Healthy, and Handy: Focus on What Matters

Nagtegaal adds: "Data form a crucial foundation for an effective approach. By collecting and analysing data, you can spot connections that would otherwise remain invisible. It's about far more than absence figures, which organisations often fixate on. We examine three categories: happiness (engagement), health (both mental and physical), and handiness (learning and development). It's precisely this combination that provides insight into the state of wellbeing in your organisation. Too often, only one aspect is measured, such as satisfaction, which tells you little without context."

"With these insights, you discover patterns and risks and can intervene preventively—with recommendations at the personal or team level. Access to different types of data enables more targeted management across different types of organisations. For instance, SMEs often have stronger social cohesion, whilst large corporates struggle with distance and hybrid working. The balance between individual and collective, therefore, differs by context and requires a specific approach."

Vulnerable groups deserve extra attention

Two groups in the Netherlands require particular attention today, according to Tomassen: "Young people, who struggle with connection and experience stress due to housing shortages and performance pressure. And the ageing workforce, who more frequently face employability challenges and post-COVID symptoms. This calls for tailored solutions, not generic ones. Attention to purpose is a good example of this."

Nagtegaal explains: "The key is truly understanding what's happening within your company. Smart use of multiple data sources helps with this. HR must utilise this knowledge to support the line and bring the boardroom up to speed on the importance of wellbeing. Facilitate managers, but don't take over from them. Be critical of data, ask questions, and deepen your understanding of data analysis and AI—that's the future of our profession."

Six tips for a successful, integrated wellbeing policy

• Stop generic solutions: a mindfulness app, online coach, or return-to-office mandate won't help if the root cause lies in the work itself.
• Treat work as a source of meaning: work can actually provide purpose and connection.
• Make wellbeing a boardroom topic: it directly affects employability, productivity, and retention.
• Dare to work with data (privacy-consciously): not to control, but to gain preventive insight and enable targeted action.
• Keep learning as a HR professional: develop your data skills, or you'll be overtaken by reality.
• Create coherence: work with themes and align internal and external parties accordingly.

TrueTribe is the main sponsor of HR Live 2025. During HR Live on the 9th of october 2025, TrueTribe will deliver various workshops within the workplace wellbeing domain. Click here for more information about the workshops. Book your tickets here.