Challenges in work, health and well-being. An interdisciplinary approach

Course goals

1. To be able to interpret and explain developments and debates concerning work, health and well-being, and the relationship between the three
2. To be able to apply and relate theoretical approaches to work, health and well-being in the organizational context from an interdisciplinary perspective
3. To be able to analyze and evaluate workplace policies and interventions in the domain of work, health and well-being
4. To be able to formulate policy advice in the domain of work, health and well-being

Content

Paid work is an important part of life in modern day capitalist societies. For most people, the better part of their weekdays is spent in employment-related activities. Labor constitutes the main form of income for most families. Employment can offer a sense of identity, meaning, as well as self-worth. On the other hand, work can be physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting and is one of the main causes of accidents and sickness. The prevention of work-related sickness and disability, as well as the promotion of employee wellbeing and motivation is one of the main challenges faced by firms and employees, as well as their representatives (e.g. employers’ associations and trade unions). In this course, we study the interrelation between the domains of work, health and well-being on the organizational and workplace level.

We study the health- and wellbeing-related risks and rewards in the workplace from an interdisciplinary perspective, meaning you will study theoretical explanations from psychological, sociological, industrial relations and public health perspectives. We use the bio-psycho-social model and the job demands-resource model, to understand how work and workplaces can both improve and impede employees’ health and wellbeing. We use the CAPABILITY approach to study worksite interventions and organizational policies aimed at reducing absenteeism and incapacity for work. Finally, we study how workplace cultures, like embodied ideal worker norms and worker voice, structure inequalities in health and wellbeing across the diverse workforce, paying attention to gender, class, race/ethnicity, and disability.  

This course takes a challenge-based learning approach. This means you will do most of the work as part of a teams, and collaborate with external stakeholders. Throughout the 8 weeks of the course, student teams collaborate to develop policy advice to real-world organizations, dealing with challenges in work, health and wellbeing. By working with stakeholders on real-world challenges, this course teaches you how to apply academic theories and evidence in the social world.

Please note that there is a maximum number of participants for this course, so register in time.