Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Thinking Allowed

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Science & Nature

BBC Radio 4 FM

Thinking Allowed: 'Long Hours' work culture; Empty labour

05/06/2013

'Long Hours' work culture; Empty labour

BBC Radio 4 - Thinking Allowed, 'Long Hours' work culture; Empty labour

Employees who pursue private actitivies at work. Also, 'long hours' work culture.

Laurie Taylor explores how and why some employees spend large percentages of their day engaged in private pursuits. Also, the professionals caught up in a 'long hours' work culture.

Empty labour - international statistics suggest that the average time an employee spends engaged in private activities is 1 and a half to 2 hours a day. Laurie Taylor talks to Roland Paulsen, a Swedish sociologist, who interviewed 43 workers who spent around half their working hours on 'empty labour'. Are such employees merely 'slacking' or are such little' subversions' acts of resistance to the way work appropriates so much of our time? They're joined by the writer, Michael Bywater. By contrast, Jane Sturges, discusses her research into professionals caught up, both reluctantly as well as willingly, in a 'long hours' work culture.

Producer: Jayne Egerton.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Thinking Allowed

'Long Hours' work culture; Empty labour

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4