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Workplace Wellbeing: Stress and Productivity at Work

Explore the link between work productivity and stress, and learn how improving workplace wellbeing can boost work performance.

4,641 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

Build workplace stress management skills and learn work productivity techniques

The UK government, businesses, and public health organisations have all backed the case for improving productivity through improved wellbeing in the workplace.

This course draws on contemporary research and consultancy experience to explore how stress impacts workplace productivity and performance.

Firstly, you’ll consider the impact of technological advances on our work schedules. You’ll discover how remote and flexible working patterns may result in an inability to switch off from work and how this can increase work-related stress and prevent the rest and recovery required to stay productive.

Next, you’ll consider individual and organisational differences that may impact the stress-productivity relationship, like differing personalities, thinking styles, and group dynamics, and learn practical workplace productivity techniques.

What topics will you cover?

We will provide an overview of:

  • The Stress Response
  • The link between stress and productivity and performance in the Workplace
  • How individual factors (e.g., personality, leadership) change the stress-productivity relationship.
  • How the changing nature of the workplace (e.g., email, remote working) can impact the stress-productivity relationship.
  • Strategies for maintaining performance and productivity in the workplace.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Discuss how we respond psychologically and physiologically under conditions of stress
  • Investigate the conditions under which stress has a negative impact on productivity and performance
  • Explore the conditions under which stress can positively impact productivity and performance
  • Identify the individual and organisational factors which impact the stress-productivity relationship
  • Evaluate what strategies can help maintain performance and productivity in the workplace

Who is the course for?

This course is primarily designed for HR professionals and those in leadership or management positions who want to learn how to improve workplace productivity and reduce stress.

The course will also be useful for anyone who wants to learn strategies to improve their own wellbeing at work.

Who developed the course?

Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Met University has a driving ambition to discover and disseminate knowledge and make higher education as accessible and beneficial to all those with the passion and ability to succeed.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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