About this session
Persistent pain usually refers to pain that continues or recurs for longer than three months. It may be linked to an underlying condition or injury, or continue even when the original tissue damage has healed.
Pain can be constant or intermittent and may affect movement, sleep, concentration, mood, relationships and the ability to work.
Living with pain at work often involves more than managing the sensation itself. Employees may need to balance fluctuating capacity, deadlines, physical demands, concentration, treatment appointments and uncertainty about whether to push through, pause or ask for support.
This session begins with practical workplace strategies. Participants map how pain affects specific tasks, build a steadier activity rhythm, prepare for flare-ups and identify adjustments that may help them remain involved in meaningful work.
It supports self-management and professional care without suggesting that pain is imaginary, purely psychological or solved by one universal technique.
What your people take away
- Identify how persistent pain affects movement, concentration, energy and work tasks
- Build a more sustainable rhythm across activity, breaks and recovery
- Prepare practical responses for flare-ups and lower-capacity days
- Communicate functional needs and explore suitable workplace adjustments
- Recognize when new, changing or severe symptoms require further assessment
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- What each length covers, 30 minutes to full day
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: Work With Pain More SustainablyA focused 30-minute session on three key points from Work With Pain More Sustainably: map the tasks pain affects most, break the overdoing and recovery cycle and change the task before abandoning it.
- Map the tasks pain affects most
- Break the overdoing and recovery cycle
- Change the task before abandoning it
Covers 3 of 4 points in Work With Pain More Sustainably.
60 minutes
60 Minutes — Module 1: Work With Pain More SustainablyThe 60-minute session focuses on immediate workplace application. Participants identify which tasks are most affected, reduce avoidable strain, create a practical pacing structure and prepare a plan for flare-ups.
- Module 1: Work With Pain More Sustainably
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 3 parts: Work With Pain More Sustainably.
90 minutes
90 Minutes — Modules 1 and 2: Recognize Patterns and Protect CapacityThe 90-minute session adds deeper exploration of activity patterns, sleep, stress, concentration, physical demands and recovery. Participants identify where the working day can be redesigned and which forms of support may make continued participation more sustainable.
- Module 1: Work With Pain More Sustainably
- Module 2: Recognize Patterns and Protect Capacity
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 3 parts: Work With Pain More Sustainably and Recognize Patterns and Protect Capacity.
3 hours
Covers all 3 parts.
Full day
Full Day — Modules 1, 2 and 3: Navigate Persistent Pain, Treatment and Longer-Term SupportThe full-day session combines practical workplace planning with accessible pain education. Participants explore how persistent pain can be influenced by biological, psychological and social factors, prepare for clinical reviews and build a flexible longer-term management plan.
- Module 1: Work With Pain More Sustainably
- Module 2: Recognize Patterns and Protect Capacity
- Module 3: Navigate Persistent Pain and Longer-Term Support
- Live Q&A
Covers all 3 parts, in more depth, with more time to practice.
What’s covered
Work With Pain More Sustainably
Every length- Map the tasks pain affects mostParticipants identify where pain interferes with sitting, standing, lifting, gripping, walking, driving, concentrating or remaining in one position.
- Break the overdoing and recovery cycleParticipants examine whether better days lead to completing too much at once, followed by a flare-up and prolonged recovery.
- Change the task before abandoning itParticipants review whether a task can be shortened, repositioned, shared, rotated or completed with different equipment.
- Create a flare-up plan before you need itParticipants prepare a reduced-capacity version of the working day covering priorities, breaks, communication, temporary task changes and professionally recommended symptom-management strategies.
Recognize Patterns and Protect Capacity
90 minutes and longer- Track function, not pain aloneParticipants record activity, sleep, stress, work demands, recovery and what they were able to complete alongside pain levels.
- Balance movement, rest and position changesParticipants explore how both prolonged inactivity and excessive activity can create difficulties.
- Reduce the cognitive load of working in painParticipants consider how pain may compete for attention and make planning, memory or decision-making harder.
- Identify support that fits the actual barrierParticipants consider changes such as adjustable equipment, task rotation, modified duties, flexible breaks, hybrid working, reduced travel or a phased return.
Navigate Persistent Pain and Longer-Term Support
3 hours and longer- See pain as a whole-person experienceThe facilitator explains that persistent pain is real and can be influenced by biological processes alongside sleep, stress, mood, previous experiences, social circumstances and access to support.
- Prepare for a more useful clinical reviewParticipants organize information about pain location, duration, changes, sleep, function, medicines, previous treatment and personal goals.
- Build a combination of management strategiesParticipants explore how persistent-pain support may involve education, graded or adapted activity, rehabilitation, relaxation, psychological approaches, medicines and workplace changes.
- Notice when the pattern needs reassessmentParticipants identify new weakness, loss of sensation, changes in bladder or bowel control, fever, unexplained weight loss, significant injury, rapidly worsening pain or a major change from their normal pattern as reasons for prompt medical assessment.
Who it’s for
- Employees living with persistent or recurring pain that affects work
- People managing fluctuating capacity, flare-ups and recovery cycles
- Managers supporting function-based adjustments without requiring full medical disclosure
- Teams in physically or cognitively demanding roles where pacing matters
- Workplace wellbeing programs focused on chronic pain, MSK health and sustainable participation
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Living With Persistent Pain at Work
How long is Living With Persistent Pain at Work?
Living With Persistent Pain at Work runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from Work With Pain More Sustainably: map the tasks pain affects most, break the overdoing and recovery cycle and change the task before abandoning it. A 60-minute session covers Work With Pain More Sustainably in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Recognize Patterns and Protect Capacity. A 3-hour session adds Navigate Persistent Pain and Longer-Term Support. A full-day session covers everything, in more depth, with more time to practice.
Can Living With Persistent Pain at Work be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Living With Persistent Pain at Work?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Living With Persistent Pain at Work to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.