Profound transformations in the nature and organization of work are occurring worldwide, with potentially far reaching social and economic consequences. The changing nature of global economic and social environments has led to a complex relationship between work, leisure, social structure and quality of life, which present a challenging concern for researchers, educators and policy makers alike.
For some organizations flexibility of working practices are being coupled with policies for a balanced work and non-work life, sometimes in response to new attitudes, values and aspirations of key workers; but also to enhance creativity, improve company loyalty, and reduce corporate health bills. Yet many employees are experiencing long hours, increasing workloads, changing work practices and job insecurity, all of which can lead to problematic levels of stress. At the same time, major social differentiation exists with significant sections of society unable to obtain employment, as well as significant variations in health and quality of life.
In "The Future of Work and Leisure" leading experts from a wide range of disciplines examine these issues by reviewing the primary areas of concern, linking each to the core practical and theoretical issues, as well as the implications of these for both future research and policy decisions. As a result this text will be provide up-to-date and well-balanced coverage of these key issues, and will prove a valuable resource to students of psychology, sociology, social policy, business and leisure studies, as well as to policy makers in both private and public organizations.

Globalization, economic development and changes in social environments have put the relationships between work, leisure, social structure and quality of life under the spotlight. Profound transformations in the nature and organization of work are occurring, with potentially far-reaching social and economic consequences. Increasingly, organizations demand greater flexibility from their workforces and are introducing new technologies and practices in response to global competitive pressures. At the same time many employees are experiencing long working hours, increasing workloads and job insecurity, along with the challenge of balancing work and domestic responsibilities. These changes threaten long-term gain in leisure time while, simultaneously, the leisure environment is also changing radically, as we see increasing commercialization and professionalization of leisure services and experiences, the influence of the Internet, the rise of gambling and the decline of community-based activity.

Exploring all of these issues, this book brings together specially commissioned chapters from international experts in a wide range of disciplines concerned with work, leisure and well-being. Each author takes stock of the current position, identifies core practical and theoretical issues and discusses possible future trends in order to provide an invaluable resource for all policy-makers, educators, employers and researchers in the field.