ABSTRACT
The world of work constitutes a huge proportion of time for many adults, and indeed in countries in which there are now child labour laws which greatly restrict the ability of children to obtain employment, the world of work is essentially that of the adult. Expectations as to which members of society should work, and under what conditions non-workers might have the right to be expect support, underpin the history of social welfare provision. An inherent assumption that it is good for people who can to work continues as a feature in much social work practice in Australia, Britain and many other countries in the twenty-first century. Mitroff and Denton's research with senior executives and human resource managers in the USA found that having spiritual needs met from work was of utmost importance, even more so than the amount of money which respondents earned. Demands of the workplace can conflict with religious expression.
