War Over Work

Many workers are caught in a spiral of longer hours, growing job insecurity, work stress and family conflict. Many want to spend more time with their family but fear being labelled uncommitted. The War Over Work is a bold and authoritative account of work patterns and the labour market in Australia. As Edgar sees it, the future workplace is a battleground, with struggles between corporate need and private greed, unions and employers, men and women, old and young. The re-election of the Howard Government promises to make these battles even more contested. In this accessible and engaging book Edgar argues that we cannot continue to focus narrowly on 'the work-family balance' as though it can be achieved through simple programs within individual Australian workplaces. The War Over Work provides a blueprint for how we can win the war to get a life that works. Dr Don Edgar is a sociologist and influential public commentator. He was foundation Director (for 14 years) of the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Since then he has directed the innovative New Links Workplace Project and acted as consultant to governments and business on work-family policies and programs. His publications include Men, Mateship, Marriage and The Patchwork Nation: Rethinking Government, Rebuilding Community.