Psychology and Economics of Worker Health

The course offers a holistic view of worker health from the perspective of occupational health psychology and work environment economics. The course addresses the complex links between work, health, and performance. Though theoretically anchored, this course prepares students to support and promote worker health and productivity.

The course has two main modules: Occupational Health Psychology and Work Environment Economics. Equipped with knowledge in both domains, students who complete the course are prepared to promote and drive beneficial transformations in workplaces and enhance workers' health, thereby boosting organizational performance.

Module 1: Occupational Health Psychology

This module focuses on worker health from a psychological perspective. The module addresses both mental health and physical health and deals with topics such as absenteeism, presenteeism, return to work, performance, mistreatment at work, organizational justice, and conflict at work. A multilayer approach coordinating individual and organizational/environmental levels of analysis is developed.

Module 2: Work Environment Economics

This module focuses on worker health from an economic perspective, exploring the economic implications of employee well-being. The economic rationale for enhancing working conditions and their effect on productivity and health will be discussed. The module will also apply economic principles to evaluate work-related health issues through case studies that include cost-benefit analyses, productivity assessment, and the establishment of healthy work environments.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:

• The student has an advanced understanding of worker health.
• The student has thorough knowledge of the (psychological and physical) features of worker health.
• The student has a deep understanding of the economic underpinnings and implications of worker health.
• They can analyze the topic in relation to various aspects including absenteeism, presenteeism, return to work, performance, mistreatment at work, organizational justice, and conflict at work.
• The student can describe and reflect on methods and models for analyzing the effects and benefits of interventions on worker health (including for e.g., mental disorders, musculoskeletal disorders) and organizational outcomes (e.g., performance, productivity loss, turnover).

Skills:

• The student possesses analytical skills to explore the complex psychosocial and economic dynamic that shapes today’s workplace (e.g., cost-effectiveness analysis).
• The student can estimate the cost benefits or effectiveness of health policies and interventions aimed at promoting worker health.

• The student can critically review and assess the factors that influence organizational investment in workers' health.
• The student can propose changes and interventions based on economic evaluation from a corporate perspective.

General competence:

• The student possesses a comprehensive understanding of worker health, encompassing micro (individual), meso (organizational), and macro (economic) levels.
• The student can apply their knowledge and skills in workplaces to respond to occupational health challenges.
• The students can apply their knowledge and skills to new areas to answer new research questions.
• The students can reflect, collaborate, and communicate on academic issues.

Lectures

Collaborative training/workshops

Group discussions

Project work and oral presentations