This book asks what might be required of "a new sociology of work" and why such a project is vital for understanding people's working lives at the start of the twenty-first century.

* A collection of essays examining the concept of work, questioning what constitutes work, and where work ends and other activities begin.

* Acknowledges the work that goes on outside formal employment, in the family, the community and within various institutions.

* Highlights the importance of understanding the broad range of experiences of work in order to provide a more meaningful account of people's work practices.

* Draws on studies which explore how localized temporal, temporal and socio-economic factors shape people's experiences.

* The editors develop a distinctive theoretical framework and draw together key conclusions and policy recommendations.