S/HR/42. Comment upon the reasons for and the consequences of the steady increase in working hours for many workers in the western world.

An eclectic approach drawing from Sociological, Psychological, topical news and Management literature, suggests that working hours are increasing for most occupations, for macro Political, Economic, Technological and Cultural reasons and changes occurring at the individual level of consciousness. Here, it has to be decided whether workers at the individual level desire more working hours or is it macro level influence from organisations and government agencies? Arguments centre around individual choice and coercion from macro influence and the effects on employee behaviour.