Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CLS3306

 
TITLE Occupational Health and Work Performance

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Centre for Labour Studies

 
DESCRIPTION Occupational health and performance are intertwined topics and thus the unit demonstrates the benefits of OHS beyond looking at health in isolation, as well as how performance matters can influence health. The unit introduces participants to work performance, how this is measured and analyses the factors that can influence this including: individual difference, illness and injury; nutrition; and illness behaviour. The unit also looks at the cost of reduced work performance and the development of return-to-work programmes.

Study-Unit Aims:

The study-unit aims to:
- Introduce participants to the concept of work performance and the cost of reduced performance;
- Present the intertwined nature of occupational health and work performance;
- Demonstrate the link between work performance and: individual difference; acute and chronic illness; acute and chronic injury; fitness, nutrition, drugs and alcohol; absenteeism and presenteeism;
- Discuss return to work programmes.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Articulate and evaluate the different aspects of performance at work within various environments, determine methods of quantifying this and the cost of reduced performance in a final assessment;
- Critically analyse the impact of health at work on performance and how work performance can influence health in a final assessment;
- Discuss and formulate methodologies during a final assessment for identifying and managing the link between work performance and: individual difference; acute and chronic illness; acute and chronic injury; fitness; nutrition, drugs and alcohol; absenteeism and presenteeism;
- Investigate and critically appraise the benefits and limitations of return-to-work interviews, return-to-work programmes and policies during a final assessment.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Contribute to the management and measurement of performance at work in a variety of work environments and situations;
- Conduct calculations of performance loss secondary to diverse health conditions;
- Introduce and prescribe methodologies for measuring the impact of workers' health on occupational performance;
- Organise, structure and undertake return-to-work interviews;
- Contribute to the formulation of return-to-work policies and return-to-work programmes tailored depending on the workers' condition and capability.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Armstrong, M. (2014). Armstrong's handbook of performance managment: an evidence-based guide to delivering high performance. Kogan Page
- EU-OSHA (2014). The business case for safety and health at work: Cost-benefit analyses of interventions in small and medium-sized enterprises. Available from: https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/reports/the-business-case-for-safety-and-health-cost-benefit-analyses-of-interventions-in-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises/view
- EU-OSHA (2014). Estimating the cost of accidents and ill-health at work: A review of methodologies. Available from: https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/estimating-cost-accidents-and-ill-health-work-review-methodologies
- Fiorini, L.A. (2019). Wellbeing, quality of life and rewards. In Baldacchino, G., Cassar, V. and Azzopardi, J.G. (2019), Malta and its Human Resources: Management and Development Perspectives. Publisher: Malta University Press
- Johns, G. (2010). Presenteeism in the workplace: a review and research agenda. Journal of organisational behaviour, 31, 519-542
- Taylor, N.A. & Groeller, H. (2008). Physiological bases of human performance during work and exercise. Elsevier

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Ind Study & Ind Online Learning

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Progress Test SEM1 No 20%
Assignment SEM1 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Luke Anthony Fiorini

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit