ABSTRACT

Together, the chapters in this book paint a detailed portrait of the dramatic changes taking place at the beginning of the twenty-first century, both in the workplace and in the personal lives of workers. The structure, pace, and experience of work have intensified at the same time that family structures have weakened in terms of their ability to buffer workers from the stresses of the economy. Several authors note how the relationship between work and personal life is sure to be reciprocal, and we agree that attention should be paid to understanding how transformations in the family affect the workplace and work outcomes. However, this book’s voice is focused on the workplace and to good effect. The chapters reveal the powerful roles organizational and job structures, policies, and processes play in mediating the relationship between workers and the economy, ultimately shaping the nature and quality of workers’ personal and family lives.