Working time and workers' preferences in industrialised countries

Jon Messenger ed, Routledge, 256 pages, hardback, £75

The battle over working time from the beginning of the industrial revolution eventually led to the reduction in weekly working hours and the widespread adoption of the "standard" working week during the last century.

The authors believe that the arguments for these reductions - concern for workers' health and safety and for the preservation of free time outside of paid labour - remain valid.

But this book argues that the changing structure of work in recent decades means there is still a substantial gap between the hours many workers actually work and what they would prefer to do. Changes such as the growth in female employment, flexible working, unsocial opening hours and part time work - mean that new policies such as work-life balance are required.

The authors provide valuable international comparisons on working time that can be used by trade unionists campaigning on these vital issues.