ProRail & Colbe
Stronger together on track
Every day, millions of people across the Netherlands trust that they'll reach their destination safely and on time by train. That responsibility rests with more than 5,000 ProRail employees who manage the rail network.
ProRail is the backbone of Dutch public transport. It operates one of the busiest, most reliable and most ingenious rail networks in the world. With 5,000 diverse colleagues, ProRail keeps 7,000 kilometres of track – and everything that goes with it – safe and in top condition. From beautiful stations and an optimal timetable to well-maintained bridges, tunnels, level crossings, points and signals.
The momentum for change
"We wanted to move away from the idea that you only act once someone's off sick," says Esther van Lunteren. "In a dynamic environment, you constantly pick up signals that can tell you something about employee wellbeing: workload, changes in people's personal lives, physical strain."
Through early detection, regular conversations and accessible support, the organisation is building an ecosystem where employees stay healthy and grow. An approach that fits an organisation where millions of people every day rely on a flawlessly functioning system. "For us, it was about more than just numbers," says Aleid Viets, Employability Case Manager at ProRail. "We wanted people to really feel good about themselves. Because only then can they safely get others home."
"We connect medical examinations, preventative programmes and absence management together. Not as separate tracks, but as one cohesive approach. That way we can switch quickly and offer genuine tailored support," says Esther van Lunteren, Health Management Advisor at ProRail.
The right match
Selecting partners within the Colbe network came down to the tender outcomes. "The real strength now is how these parties come together in our integrated approach," explains Esther van Lunteren. "This way we connect medical examinations, preventative programmes and absence management together. Not as separate tracks, but as one cohesive approach. That way we can switch quickly and offer genuine tailored support." That focus on the collective rather than just the individual aligned perfectly with ProRail's organisational culture. "It makes a huge difference that occupational physicians, examining doctors, psychologists and organisational consultants know each other, and that they really understand our organisation inside out," adds Aleid Viets.
Data as a compass for action
Four times a year, ProRail and the professionals from the Colbe network come together in a client team meeting. In these meetings, it's not only figures that are discussed, but trends that are explored and patterns that are interpreted. "It's not just about reports, but about interpretation and translation into practice," says Viets. "What stands out? How can we do things differently? And which intervention should we deploy?"
One idea that emerged from these conversations was an '@-risk' dashboard: a tool that shows which employees – even though they're currently at work – have an elevated risk of falling temporarily ill. "Research shows that long-term and frequent absence are both strong predictors of future sick leave. By identifying earlier who might be at risk of absence, we can have the conversation in time and explore what someone needs to keep functioning well. So it's about care and support," says Esther van Lunteren. This kind of predictive analysis fits with ProRail's DNA as an innovative organisation that's already investing heavily in digital technologies.
Prevention as the new standard
Prevention lies at the heart of the new approach. ProRail offers employees a broad range of support: mental fitness checks, preventative consultations, career coaching and initiatives around work-life balance, bereavement and caring responsibilities.
There's also the PMO: a Preventative Medical Examination that helps identify health risks early on. "The short lines of communication with the occupational physicians, examining doctor and organisational consultant who contribute their thinking – it's a collaboration that works, precisely because everyone knows each other," says Van Lunteren.
Empowering line managers
Within the integrated approach, line managers play a central role. They have the conversations, spot the signs and provide support. ProRail supports them with training and conversation models, developed alongside experts from Skills, covering topics like dealing with psychological complaints, brain-friendly working and scenarios for supporting reintegration. "We train new line managers and continue to support our experienced colleagues in their development," says Aleid Viets. "We attend management meetings and encourage an open culture. That's also part of integrated working."
"They know our organisation, our culture, our challenges. And they actively help us work out how things can be better. As a result, we can increasingly anticipate what our people need." Aleid Viets, Employability Case Manager
Culture as foundation
What sets ProRail's approach apart is that wellbeing is embedded in the organisational culture. Employees are kept informed through theme months, Summer School, information pages, workshops and various employee networks. Not as one-off campaigns, but as natural parts of their work.
"Health and wellbeing aren't add-ons – they're part of good employment practice," says Van Lunteren. "It should be normal to talk about workload, recovery, caring responsibilities or mental fitness. And that starts with visibility, recognition and repetition."
This cultural shift fits with the broader transformation ProRail is undergoing. As an organisation in motion, where digitalisation and new ways of working are increasingly taking centre stage, it's natural that attention to employee wellbeing is moving more prominently onto the agenda. Strengthening the internal culture is therefore part of developing a future-proof organisation.
The power of partnership
The collaboration with the Colbe partners makes it possible to maintain this integrated approach and keep refining it. "They know our organisation, our culture, our challenges," says Viets. "And they actively think help us work out how things can be better. From medical examinations to mental health support – through our collaboration within the network, we can increasingly anticipate what our people need."
For an organisation that ensures the Netherlands keeps moving every day, that's more than just a nice ambition. It's the key to sustainable performance in a sector where human error simply isn't an option.
About ProRail
ProRail is responsible for the maintenance, renewal, expansion and safety of the Dutch rail network. As rail infrastructure manager, the organisation manages one of the busiest and most complex rail networks in the world. With approximately 5,000 employees, ProRail manages 7,000 kilometres of track and ensures that 160 million train kilometres are travelled safely each year. The organisation allocates track capacity as an independent party, controls all train traffic and builds and manages stations. ProRail is also investing heavily in innovation – from digitalising work processes to implementing predictive maintenance through advanced monitoring systems. With the growing demand for sustainable mobility, ProRail plays a crucial role in meeting climate targets and shaping the future of public transport.
About Colbe
Colbe is the European network of health and wellbeing specialists. We help people feel better – and stay better – at work. Find out more about us.