Work and Leisure
Work and Leisure
Work and Leisure
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PrefaceThe year 2000 was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the publication of <strong>Work</strong><strong>and</strong> <strong>Leisure</strong>: An Interdisciplinary Study in Theory, Education <strong>and</strong> Planning(Haworth <strong>and</strong> Smith 1975). The book was based on the proceedings of aconference at which the <strong>Leisure</strong> Studies Association was conceived. Threedecades later, global economic <strong>and</strong> social environments are very different, themood is more uncertain <strong>and</strong> forecasting simplistic trends in work <strong>and</strong> leisurepatterns is no longer appropriate. In this transformed environment, the relationshipbetween work, leisure, social structure <strong>and</strong> well-being have emergedas challenging concerns for researchers, educators <strong>and</strong> policy-makers. Somecommentators argue that profound transformations in the nature <strong>and</strong> organisationof work are occurring with potentially far-reaching social <strong>and</strong> economicconsequences. Many organisations are dem<strong>and</strong>ing greater flexibility<strong>and</strong> introducing new technologies <strong>and</strong> working practices in response to thepressures of competition. Innovation is needed to sustain <strong>and</strong> create newjobs. Training for job skills is now a crucial part of economic strategy. Andthe meanings <strong>and</strong> concepts of work <strong>and</strong> leisure are being reappraised.For some organisations flexibility of working practices are being coupledwith policies for a balanced work <strong>and</strong> non-work life, sometimes in response tonew attitudes, values <strong>and</strong> aspirations of key workers, but also to enhancecreativity, improve company loyalty, <strong>and</strong> reduce the corporate health bill. Yetmany employees are experiencing long hours, increasing workloads, changingwork practices, <strong>and</strong> job insecurity. Stress at work <strong>and</strong> home is viewed as amajor problem. At the same time, major social differentiation exists withincreasing numbers of women in the paid workforce facing particular challenges,with resources in Western societies being increasingly unequally distributed,<strong>and</strong> significant variations arising in health, well-being <strong>and</strong> qualityof life. The leisure environment has also changed radically with increasingcommercialisation of leisure services <strong>and</strong> experiences, the influence of theInternet <strong>and</strong> globalisation, <strong>and</strong> a widespread decline in community-basedactivities.This book brings together specially commissioned chapters from a numberof leading experts in a wide range of disciplines concerned with work, leisure
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