Prioritizing the wellbeing of workers is not just a good - or ethical - thing to do, but because it makes business sense. A happier, healthier workforce is a more productive workforce. A productive workforce is more likely to attend, perform their best work, and add more value to an organization.
Unfortunately, investing in the well-being of workers isn’t so simple.
In this course, you’ll unpack what “worker wellbeing” means across different contexts, explore how to use research techniques to find the sweet spot between worker interests and firm interests, and understand how to design scalable solutions to enable both parties to thrive.
University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business Professor Achyuta Adhvaryu, Ph.D., co-founder of research nonprofit, Good Business Lab, will guide you through the course, and share how research-based interventions can affect worker and business outcomes. Leaders from academia, research, business, and workers themselves, share their perspectives coupled with academic research to help you design a worker wellbeing intervention of your own.
Whether you’re a student interested in social business, an executive exploring ways to support your teams, or just passionate about this space, there is something in this course for you.
Creating a good business involves aligning the priorities of workers with the priorities of management. In this module, we will be joined by leaders from industry, labor, and research, who will share expert insights, and provide real-world context to help us understand the relationship between worker wellbeing and business performance.
Examining Shahi Exports Investment in Worker Wellbeing with Anant Ahuja•7 minutes
Closer Look at Labor Rights, the Labor Market, and Unionization Movements with Jill Tucker•7 minutes
Interview with IndustriALL with Christina Hajagos-Clausen and Apoorva Kaiwar•0 minutes
Implementing RCTs with Smit Gade•5 minutes
Good Business Lab (GBL) Research Methodology•3 minutes
Introduction to Good Business Lab (GBL) with Anant Nyshadham•8 minutes
11 readings•Total 70 minutes
Syllabus•10 minutes
Pre-Survey•10 minutes
Explore the History of the Worker Wellbeing-Business Relationship•3 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Anant Ahuja•3 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Jill Tucker•3 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Christina Hajagos-Clausen and Apoorva Kaiwar•3 minutes
Explaining Randomized Control Trials (RCTs)•10 minutes
Research Hypotheses•5 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Smit Gade•10 minutes
Introduction to "Develop Your Own RCT" Practice•10 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Anant Nyshadham•3 minutes
2 assignments•Total 50 minutes
Develop Your Own RCT•20 minutes
Module 1 Quiz•30 minutes
1 app item•Total 20 minutes
Gamut Workbook: Vision Setting•20 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 25 minutes
Introduce Yourself!•10 minutes
Connection to Worker Wellbeing-Business History•15 minutes
1 plugin•Total 10 minutes
History of Good Business•10 minutes
Impacts of Soft Skill Development on Life and Workplace Outcomes
Module 2•5 hours to complete
Module details
This module will explore how investing in the soft skills of workers can have positive impacts on business outcomes. Covering topics such as self-confidence, effective communication, and wider life-skill development, we will use case studies from blue-collar settings to understand the role of rigorous research in developing soft skill training programs that are effective for workers and scalable for firms.
Impacts of Soft Skill Development on Life and Workplace Outcomes•7 minutes
Soft Skills in Various Contexts•4 minutes
Soft Skills Research in Uganda with Vittorio Bassi•5 minutes
Mission of the World Bank's Gender Innovation Lab•15 minutes
Evaluation of Gap Inc.'s Personal Advancement and Career Enhancement Program•15 minutes
GAP Inc. P.A.C.E. Worker interviews•13 minutes
Supporting the Progression of Female Garment Workers with Jalandhar Giri•25 minutes
The Importance of Developing the Skills of Women Workers with Chitra Ramdas•4 minutes
8 readings•Total 77 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Vittorio Bassi•3 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Markus Goldstein•3 minutes
Measuring the Impact of Increasing Grit in Turkey•20 minutes
Developing Negotiation Skills in Teenage Girls•25 minutes
Personal Advancement and Career Enhancement (P.A.C.E.) Program•10 minutes
Why Listen to Workers?•10 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Jalandhar Giri•3 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Chitra Ramdas•3 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 2 Quiz•30 minutes
1 app item•Total 20 minutes
Soft Skills Development in Your Context•20 minutes
4 discussion prompts•Total 55 minutes
What Do Soft Skills Mean to You?•10 minutes
Soft Skills and their Business Impacts•15 minutes
Reflection of Case Studies•15 minutes
Reflection on the Impact of the Gap Inc. P.A.C.E program•15 minutes
Worker Voice
Module 3•5 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we will begin by exploring the history of worker voice and the importance of worker–management communication. Using the case study of “Inache” – a worker grievance redressal tool developed by Good Business Lab in partnership with one of India’s largest exporters of ready-made garments – we will go through the end-to-end process of researching worker and business requirements, designing a solution, evaluating the effectiveness of the solution in a real-world pilot study, and then adapting an intervention for implementation at scale.
Introduction to Worker Voice: Anant Nyshadham•9 minutes
Evaluating the Impact of Worker Voice Interventions with Teresa Molina•3 minutes
The Role of Access to Information on Worker-Management Relations with Laura Boudreau•11 minutes
Worker Evaluations and Feedback Channels•4 minutes
Designing Solutions for the Wellbeing of Workers Across Industries with Elena Fanjul- Debnam•32 minutes
Investing in Worker Voice Tools with Rebecca Offensend•20 minutes
Case Study: Project Inache•9 minutes
What to Consider When Scaling Up an Intervention•4 minutes
Chitra Ramdas: Guest speaker lecture•7 minutes
Worker interviews: Inache (Turn on Subtitles)•5 minutes
11 readings•Total 68 minutes
Expectations, Wage Hikes, and Worker Voice•15 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Teresa Molina•3 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Laura Boudreau•3 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Jing Cai•10 minutes
Improving Labor Standards•10 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Elena Fanjul- Debnam•3 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Rebecca Offensend•3 minutes
Considerations for Developing a Worker Voice Tool•10 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Arvind Patil•3 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Mamta Pimoli•3 minutes
Worker Interviews: Reactions to Inache•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
1 app item•Total 20 minutes
Empowering Worker Voice•20 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 45 minutes
Exit, Voice, and Loyalty•15 minutes
Value of Worker Voice In Your Setting•15 minutes
Reflection on Existing Worker Voice Tools•15 minutes
Workplace Environment & Mental Health
Module 4•4 hours to complete
Module details
The mental, physical, and holistic health of workers greatly determines the success of any organization. In this module, we will explore how the workplace environment can influence the wellbeing and productivity of workers. Through multiple research case studies, we will also learn about how firms can improve productivity and retention of their workforce by designing interventions that address health and safety challenges workers face.
Menstrual Health in the Workplace Reflection•15 minutes
The Importance of Managers
Module 5•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we will explore the importance of managerial quality on worker wellbeing and business outcomes. We will go through multiple case studies from different industry settings across the globe to explore how managers can be better trained, supported, and utilized, in order to be more effective in their roles and contribute to creating a good business.
Managerial Quality and Business Outcomes•3 minutes
Methodology and Key Findings From the STITCH Evaluation with Emir Murathanoglu•5 minutes
Worker Interviews: STITCH•6 minutes
Managerial Quality with Jorge Tamayo•20 minutes
Research Studies on Managerial Quality•15 minutes
How Do Management Practices Across Firms and Countries Differ with Nick Bloom•15 minutes
7 readings•Total 40 minutes
Does Management Matter?•10 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Emir Murathanoglu•3 minutes
Worker Interview Intro: STITCH•1 minute
What is Holding Firms Back?•10 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Jorge Tamayo•3 minutes
Guest Speaker Intro: Nick Bloom•3 minutes
Do Management Interventions Last?•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 5 Quiz•30 minutes
1 app item•Total 20 minutes
Improving Managerial Quality•20 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 15 minutes
Barriers to Improvement in Your Setting•15 minutes
Worker Wellbeing Plan
Module 6•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will draw on all the lessons covered in this course to design a program that addresses a real, specific challenge in your workplace. This final assessment will be submitted for peer-review, providing a unique opportunity to connect with your peers in the worker wellbeing and good business community.
What's included
3 readings1 peer review1 app item
Show info about module content
3 readings•Total 85 minutes
Develop Your Worker Wellbeing Intervention Plan•15 minutes
Intervention Development Guide & Project Submission Template•60 minutes
Post Course Survey•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Your Worker Wellbeing Plan•60 minutes
1 app item•Total 20 minutes
Gamut Workbook: Brainstorm from Your Workbook Entries•20 minutes
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.