“Brigid Schulte is a vital voice on the future of work, and her carefully researched book lights the way to fewer hours, less stress, and more meaning.” ―Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the podcast WorkLife From the New York Times bestselling author of Overwhelmed, a deeply reported exploration of why American work isn’t working and how our lives can be made more meaningful Following Overwhelmed, Brigid Schulte’s groundbreaking examination of time management and stress, the prizewinning journalist now turns her attention to the greatest culprit in America’s quality-of-life crisis: the way our economy and culture conceive of work. Americans across all demographics, industries, and socioeconomic levels report exhaustion, burnout, and the wish for more meaningful lives. This full-system failure in our structure of work affects everything from gender inequality to domestic stability, and it even shortens our lifespans. Drawing on years of research, Schulte traces the arc of our discontent from a time before the 1980s, when work was compatible with well-being and allowed a single earner to support a family, until today, with millions of people working multiple hourly jobs or in white-collar positions where no hours are ever off duty. She casts a wide net in search of solutions, exploring the movement to institute a four-day workweek, introducing Japan’s Housewives Brigade—which demands legal protection for family time—and embedding with CEOs who are making the business case for humane conditions. And she demonstrates the power of a collective and creative demand for change, showing that work can be organized in an infinite number of ways that are good for humans and for business. Fiercely argued and vividly told, rich with stories and informed by deep investigation, Over Work lays out a clear vision for ending our punishing grind and reclaiming leisure, joy, and meaning.

Overworked? Overwhelmed? Protect yourself from burnout. The amount of work placed on women is often insurmountable. Along with doing what's required for our jobs, we're often asked to manage tasks that don't lead to career growth or promotions. At work and at home we're charged with countless forms of invisible labor that sap our time and energy. We usually rise to the occasion and do all of these things well, but this constant flow of overwork can leave us feeling underappreciated, frustrated, and burned out. It's time to end the culture of overwork for women. From doing fewer dead-end tasks to delegating effectively, Overcoming Overwork provides practical advice for taking control of your workload so that you can spend your time doing what matters to you. This book will inspire you to: Work smarter, not harder Delegate tasks and projects for a more equitable balance of labor Ask for help when your workload becomes unmanageable Carve out time and space for yourself The HBR Women at Work series spotlights the real challenges and opportunities women experience throughout their careers. With interviews from the popular podcast of the same name and related articles, stories, and research, these books provide inspiration and advice for taking on topics at work like inequity, advancement, and building community. Featuring detailed discussion guides, this series will help you spark important conversations about where we're at and how to move forward.

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.