Designing Better Work
Work is under pressure everywhere. Do you see this in organisations too?
Burnout and absenteeism are rising
More people are dropping out, and the costs continue to climb.
Engagement and motivation are declining
Teams lose energy and ownership, resulting in a drop in performance.HR tools measure, but rarely change
Surveys and dashboards give data, but not solutions.
The result? Organisations are investing more while getting less in return.
Work Design is the practice of shaping work in a way that supports both well-being and performance. It looks at the balance between energy-draining demands and motivating resources. By adjusting how work is structured, experienced, and supported, we create space for people to thrive.
With Designing Better Work you’ll learn how to:
Manage stress with the right resources
Activate energy and motivation
Use proven, science-based tools
Vivic, the leading organisation in evidence-based work design, powers this international certification programme. Vivic collaborates with dozens of certified work designers to run strategic interventions across multinationals, SMEs, national government, municipalities, education and healthcare, helping organisations gain traction on wellbeing, productivity and sustainable performance.
Klaas-Jan Reincke and Fenne van den Bos are the founders of Vivic and pioneers in proactive work design. For over five years, they have run this training with growing impact and the 8th Dutch edition is now live.
The program is co-led by Prof. Arnold Bakker, co-founder of the globally dominant JD-R model (Job Demands and Resources) and one of the most cited researchers in organizational psychology and business & management.
Nicole, Team Leader Social Services, municipality
“We were stuck in stress and overload. The co-workdesign approach gave our teams ownership, structure, and energy. Absenteeism went down, and joy came back.
Mario, Vitality Coach, National Tax Authority
“We trained over 2,000 leaders in proactive behaviour and motivation. The shift in mindset across the organisation has been huge.”
Carla, VP of HR, telecom provider
“It helped us move from generic survey results to real conversations and targeted action. We now use the JD-R model to build better teams, based on real data and shared language.”
Prof. Evangelia Demerouti, President, European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology.
“The JD-R Workdesigner programme is scientifically grounded and practical. Ideal for consultants, health professionals, and HR leaders who want to make work more engaging, healthy, and sustainable.”
Based on the World Economic Forum’s top skills for 2025–2030, this programme empowers you to boost engagement and resilience in your team, with cutting-edge, science-based methods, tested across Europe in small and large organizations.
This programme helps you grow five workdesign superpowers:
Resilience and agility: Learn to manage demands and build personal and team resilience
Leadership and influence: Support transformation with evidence-based tools
Curiosity and learning: Engage in a vibrant learning journey that challenges how you think about work
Empathy and listening: Develop a deeper understanding of how people experience work
Motivation and awareness: Apply the JD-R model to activate engagement in yourself and others
Your learning journey
The programme offers three levels of training: Essentials, Facilitator, and Practitioner. Each track follows its own format and timeline, combining self-paced learning with online sessions and (for some tracks) in-person moments.
Deep Dive Days
Join us in Rotterdam (NL) for 3 energizing days with Prof. Arnold Bakker and experienced practitioners.
* Practitioners level only
Live online sessions
Online sessions, interactive workshops, and expert webinars grounded in world-class research and practice
Flexible e-learning
Flexible, self-paced e-learning. Built on the JD-R model with practical tools
Local closing days
Wrap up locally with peers, exchange insights and put your skills into practice.
* Practitioners level only
International programme
Designing Better Work is an international programme, with optional local in-person events depending on your track.
The structure is designed to fit your location and preferences, with closing events hosted by our facilitators in the United Kingdom, Germany, Türkiye, Norway and Iceland.
You don’t need to live in one of the participating countries to join. The full programme is delivered in English. Local closing events may include brief parts in the local language, but remain accessible to all participants and can be joined online.
Meet your national facilitator
Designing Better Work is more than a programme; it is also a local, connected experience. The programme is delivered in collaboration with trusted, experienced partners who are pioneers in work design within their own countries. They bring deep knowledge of local cultures, systems and organizational dynamics.
These are not just facilitators; they are co-creators, guides, and part of the growing European work design community. They are all experienced professionals in organizational psychology, HR and behaviour change, each bringing deep local knowledge and support.
You'll work with them during the in-country sessions and stay connected throughout the programme. They are your learning companions, sounding board and bridge between theory and local reality.
Dr. Joanne Gray has deep expertise in organisational wellbeing and behavioural change, with a strong background in practical applications of work design.
Based in the UK, she is a founding partner in our international network, bringing real-world insight and a compelling voice to European audiences.
Joanne inspires audiences with evidence-based sessions and has a track record of fostering sustainable motivation and engagement.
Dr. Nicole Tschierske is a scientist-turned-coach whose work supports individuals and leaders in reducing stress and increasing motivation through smart work design.
With a PhD in chemistry and rigorous training in positive psychology and change management, she uses the Job Demands–Resources model to help teams create healthier, more productive work practices.
Known for her engaging, analytical, yet playful approach, Nicole’s contribution is both practical and scientifically grounded.
Kristin Dille is a certified psychologist and senior consultant at Avonova with over 20 years of experience in occupational and organizational psychology.
She supports leaders and teams across private and public sectors in preventing stress and burnout, developing healthy work environments, strengthening leadership, driving health-promoting change, and managing conflicts.
She is passionate about creating sustainable workplaces, she helps organizations build conditions where people truly thrive.
Idil is a professor of Organizational Psychology, with nearly 30 years of experience as a researcher, trainer and consultant.
Her focus is on psychosocial risks that can leave traces at individual, group, or organizational levels, disrupting workflow within organizational processes. Idil is the founder of the PRISMA Institute for Psychosocial Risk Management and the IOCP Association.
Idil brings deep expertise in psychosocial safety and flexible work systems, grounded in award-winning EU and TÜBİTAK-funded projects.
Hildur is a psychologist and founder of HumanAtWork, a company dedicated to helping organizations create conditions for thriving people and meaningful work.
With a background in management consulting and psychology, she supports leaders in building cultures of trust, resilience, and sustainable performance.
Her approach is grounded in the belief that people flourish when work is both human and purposeful.
Key dates
The Essentials Track is fully self-paced via the Huddle learning platform and therefore has no fixed key dates.
Practitioner Track
Kick-off in Rotterdam (NL)
6, 7 & 8 October
Live online sessions
23 October 13:00–16:00 CET
13 November 13:00–16:00 CET
15 January 13:00–16:00 CET
5 February 13:00–16:00 CET
26 February 13:00–16:00 CET
Closing Events (Choose dates & location)
18 - 19 March in Spain
23 - 24 March in Germany
1 - 2 April in the United Kingdom
* Exact locations to be confirmed
Facilitator Track
Live online sessions
3 online session 14:00–16:00 CET *
* Dates will be confirmed soon
Closing Event: optional (Choose date & location) *
19 March in Spain
24 March in Germany
2 April in the United Kingdom
* Exact locations to be confirmed
Choose your track
Your journey, your choice! With three tracks tailored to different ambitions, time, and budget, we’ll guide you to the programme that suits you best. Secure your spot now with a 20% deposit
Choose Essentials if you're looking for a flexible, fully self-paced introduction to work design. This level is entirely self-study and delivered 100% via the Huddle learning platform. It is ideal if you're new to the JD-R model or want a low-threshold entry to explore the field. You can start at any time.
Full E-learning via Huddle platform
Recorded webinars (on-demand)
Time commitment: 20-25 hours
Price: €295*
*VAT will be added - where applicable - to your final invoice (not part of the 20% deposit)
Enroll and secure your spot with only a 20% deposit
Choose Facilitator if you want to actively apply work design in your team or client projects and need practical, evidence-based tools. This level combines flexible e-learning via Huddle with live online sessions and the opportunity for local exchange, giving you everything you need to support teams with proven insights.
E-learning (via Huddle)
3 live online sessions
(Optional) Closing event (19 March in Spain, 24 March in Germany and 2 April in UK)
Time commitment: 50-55 hours
Price: €995* (includes lunch and coffee break at the closing event, travel cost not included)
*VAT will be added - where applicable - to your final invoice (not part of the 20% deposit)
Enroll and secure your spot with only a 20% deposit
Choose Practitioner if you're ready for the full experience: deep expertise, international connection, and a stronger professional profile. As the only certified track, Practitioner offers maximum value, combining advanced knowledge with practical skills and hands-on tools to apply Work Design in real-world contexts. This track is designed for professionals who want to integrate Work Design into their daily practice, whether as an advisor, trainer, coach, or internal change agent. By joining, you also become part of the European Work Design Network, collaborating across borders on real-world challenges and shared ambitions
3 days kick-off in Rotterdam NL (Including lunch and coffee breaks. Travel and accommodation not included)
E-learning
6 interactive online workshops
Closing event
Time commitment: 90-100 hours
Price: €3.995*
Hotel accommodation is not included; we are happy to provide recommendations.
While we recommend staying at the kick-off hotel, you are free to choose and book your own accommodation.
*VAT will be added - where applicable - to your final invoice (not part of the 20% deposit)
Here you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the programme. If your question is not listed, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to help you!
For country-specific questions, you can also reach out directly to your national facilitator via the contact buttons under their profile.
Will there be an exam at the end of the program?
Yes, but only for the Practitioner level. For those participants, there will be an exam if you wish to receive certification (not mandatory)
The exam consists of four elements:
Audio recordings of two Flow interviews (you will learn how to conduct these during the course).
A group assignment in which you solve a work design business case. The output will be a joint presentation of your advice to the imaginary client.
An online theory exam that you can retake if needed. You may use all the course materials while answering.
Development of your own work design tool, a practical application of what you have learned on a topic of your choice.
You will present this tool during the closing days in your country, and it can also be shared with other work designers.
Will the online sessions be recorded so I can watch them in my own time?
The webinars will be recorded and made available. Other online sessions may also be recorded, unless participants object.
Are there home tasks or obligatory readings during the program / between the sessions?
Sometimes we’ll suggest material to review before a session, but it’s not mandatory. It simply helps you get the most out of the program!
Role of the national facilitators in program guidance
They are mainly involved in the in-country closing event, which they co-facilitate with an experienced Vivic trainer to ensure the program is relevant, coherent, and well-adapted to the national context.
If I already attended JD-R training sessions before, what is new? What is the added value?
Applying key JD-R mechanisms (buffering, boosting, gain/loss cycles) in real-life situations with case studies, exercises, and discussions
Using a toolkit of methods and techniques to foster proactive work behaviour, share resources, and manage demands
Learning from the latest research (2024–2025)
I still have questions. Who can I contact?
For questions about the programme content, feel free to reach out to Vivic via [email protected] or your local facilitator using the buttons in the track overview section. Questions about payment or invoicing? Contact the Vivic team directly via email, we are happy to help
