ABSTRACT
The workplace is essential to our existence. Economic logic tells us that the more firms produce and the more efficient organizations are, the healthier and happier society will become. But this is not happening. In fact many have begun to argue, based on research findings, that during the last ten years we have witnessed increasing stress, burnout, turnover, absenteeism, injuries and heart diseases. The balance between work and life also emerged as a major concern for many. A conservative estimate of the costs amounts to some 20 billion Euros annually. Even more staggering is the human suffering of many millions of European workers. Workload in hours worked is steadily increasing, with varying signs between countries of the limit being reached. The typical American works 350 more hours a year than the typical European, more hours even than the industrious Japanese. Only 8 per cent of Americans are prepared to work fewer hours for less pay, compared to 30 per cent for Britain and Japan and 38 per cent for Germany (Reich 2000, p. 6).
