Social transformation and the changing work‐leisure relationship in the late 1990s

Abstract

This paper examines the development of work‐leisure research over the past thirty years. In the 1960s and 70s the anticipation of long‐term decline in working hours was expected to result in increased leisure time. Researchers of that period examined theories on conditions when work values spilled over into leisure and when leisure activities compensated for the stresses of work. Spillover and compensation were further examined from diverse occupational perspectives and new patterns of work‐leisure relating to extension, opposition, and neutrality were developed. Contrary to expectations, the 1980s and 90s provided strong evidence that people worked longer hours, non‐standard work hours were normalised, substantial underemployment and unemployment prevailed, and occupational restructuring resulted in workforces divided into the professional core, contractual fringe and flexible labour force. The corresponding workforce transformation resulted in the development of three societies of leisure ‐ consumers, leisure industry workers and marginalised impoverished groups. Implications for the leisure of each category are discussed.