Increasing Number Of People From The Western Industrialized Countries

     One of the more interesting aspects that Peiss mentions about the change in the demographics of the labor force directly relates to the way leisure time is spent. Peiss mentions many statistics that show how the working woman was quickly refusing household work and moving to the factory or office position. More specifically, a study of 370 working mothers showed 70 percent of them to be employed in domestic and personal service while the vast majority of their daughters worked in stores, offices, and factories (Cheap Amusements, 39). The significance of this change lies in the resulting change in attitude about leisure time. Now, a clearer distinction between time spent at work and

When employed labor is involved, productivity in terms of time becomes important, because the employer generally pays the worker in terms of time. For many jobs, then a shift from task-orientation to timed labor occurs, as the laborer’s time becomes the employer’s money. Thus, a separation between work and leisure occurs, as

There is widespread acceptance of humanity’s recent evolution. The Industrial Revolution is commonly regarded as the origin of the capitalist working order. Since the early 19th century people have been focusing more and more on their job performance and less and less on their personal enjoyment. Even though some, in recent years, have started to promulgate a better work life balance, the recent economic crisis has not done much for this feeble equilibrium.

c) Schor feels that work and leisure are inversely proportional. People are occupied with long work hours and household chores. The residual time left is considered as leisure.

In Leisure, Basis of Culture, Josef Pieper, a twentieth century German Catholic philosopher, talks about a connection between leisure and the world of work (i.e., world of utilitarian measures). For Pieper, leisure and the world of work are two fundamentally different ways of approaching reality, and our understanding of human existence is derived from one or the other.

Leisure is a word many people use in their everyday lives it therefore has many different definitions. The most general definition is ‘time or opportunity for relaxation or hobbies’ (Collins Concise English Dictionary, 2004). However, more specifically (Haywood, 1995), referred to leisure as time left over from work. Nevertheless it can be questioned what people would relate to as work and what impact leisure has on those who are unemployed, retired or simply live work driven lives. This essay will look at the many different definitions of leisure and will use appropriate literature to identify key concepts.

A variety of evidence and data was collected inn support of this hypothesis. To start off with, the paper defines ‘routine activities’ as activities at home, in jobs away from

Workers today have less leisure time than ever before. The pressures of a recessionary economy and a high unemployment rate have conspired to give citizens in what is often heralded as the most democratic nation in the world very little time to regulate their own activities. "Americans work longer hours, take fewer vacation days, and retire later than workers in the rest of the developed world, including Japan, according to ABC News. Americans work nearly 10 weeks per year more than Germans, according to OECD data cited by Mother Jones" (Kavoussi 2012). The ancient philosophers Epicurus and Aristotle believed that such a state of affairs is not merely damaging to human health and sanity: it also makes feel us less fully human. Only in leisurely, unstructured activity which is not purpose-driven, Epicureans would say, can we engage in a moderate lifestyle that honors our bodily needs. Only in leisure, Aristotle would say, can we contemplate higher philosophy. This paper will suggest that given the nature of modern industrial employment, only vacationing at the seaside or living in nature provides some respite from the lack of leisure in modern existence.

Society is created by ongoing social conflict between the more powerful groups who exploit groups with lesser power. There was a fine line between work and home which now has been blurred from the stay-home-jobs (Macionis, 2008). The pressure of work that used to just fill the office now is taken home, so where do you find the balance again for this new

Tompa et al (2009) presents theories of work-life balance in The Social Determinants of Health (2nd ed). Particularly regarding unpredictable work hours that can cause fewer time spent with family at home and more likely to cause stress that may impact health. The findings in my time-use diary are concurrent with the theories presented earlier. Scheduling uncertainty is evident which causes income uncertainty and also the ability to plan your day is restricted. The impact of income insecurity and unpredictability causes strain in employment that may lead to decreasing health. Irregular hours have also lead to poor health and as evidence has shown, also increases stress (Tompa et al, 2009). Although my everyday work schedule allows me to create the schedule in advance, the uncertainty of the hours has consistently lead to less time I am allowed to spend at home or able to use for studying. When fewer paid work hours are given, there is a

The growing concern around obesity and lack of physical activity has pushed Charles Stanley to offer health club membership. Also the attitudes to work and leisure bring focus to the work hard, play hard culture and for leisure. Charles Stanley have a Ride to Work scheme in place. Having such schemes in place may incur additional costs but there are long term benefits which include higher productivity, raised morale, motivation, engagement and achieving strategic objectives. The work life balance is also an important issue as many find that work demands get in the way of other commitments so ‘being aware of different demands on time and energy’ has become increasingly difficult to manage within the HR function at Charles Stanley. (David Clutterbuck) It has become increasingly important to have family friendly policies and flexible work patterns to help employees with other commitments such as community commitments or studying. Family friendly benefits like childcare vouchers are also offered at Charles Stanley but not taken up by many because they are not publicised enough. Other challenges recently raised within the HR dept is the lack of female labour in financial services and the ageing workforce which increases pensions costs. Technological

Aside from physically active leisure, there are also benefits to more passive leisure as it allows individuals to “detach” from their other responsibilities, such as work (Sonnentag, 2012). The benefits are often psychological and can help reduce stress and increase wellbeing and social skills (Sonnentag, 2012). Ruskin et al (2003) understands that affordable leisure benefits all aspects

Americans work many more hours per week on average than our counterparts in countries such as Germany, Britain, and Japan according to Schuyler Velasco and Jacob Turcotte. Working more than other countries that are also considered world super powers is a disadvantage to the United States because, while other countries have the mindset of work to live, the United States has the mindset of live to work. This can be crippling to the hard-working men and women that power the United States and has caused an enormous ripple effect on the society of this nation. When considering this approach, it is not surprising to see research that shows that “Nearly 4 in 10 (Americans) work more than 50 hours per week” (Velasco, Turcotte). The fact that 40% of Americans are working a 50-hour work week has

Activities that fulfill us the most are the ones we do in our leisure time. Many of the philosophers we have read offer wisdom and advice on what we should do with our free time. Seneca’s interpretation resonated with me the most, “Leisure seemed such a desirable thing that, because he couldn 't enjoy it in reality, he enjoyed the thought of it in advance” (4.14). If our minds are constantly distracted with worries for the future or regrets from the past, there will be no time left to live with your mind in the present. This quote comes from a story of a man named Augustus, who worked longer and harder than all his peers, but was still never satisfied due to his lack of leisure. This can be relayed back to Aristotle’s definition of the golden mean. In the Nicomachean Ethics, he describes the mean as being, “between two vices, the one involving excess, the other deficiency, and that it is such because its character is to aim at what is intermediate” (2.7.20). Every virtue has two ends of the spectrum, and we should strive to reach the intermediate. For leisure, we can either sit on the couch all day and do absolutely nothing, or spend every hour of the day working, not stopping to take a break. To best optimize our time, and end each day feeling the most fulfilled as possible, we should strive for a balance between leisure and work. Furthermore, reflecting on how much time spent on each will bring us closer to the good life.

          As we can see from my personal examples and views, workers spend their leisure time more productively that a laborer. Since