Fully updated and restructured, the second edition of Stephen Edgell's comprehensive title charts the rise of 'work' from the first human societies. The book explores all aspects of work including paid and unpaid, standard and non-standard and unemployment. New material has been incorporated covering the theories and practices of globalization, capitalist globalization, neo-liberalism, economic crisis, technological and organizational change, and trade unions. Drawing on classic and contemporary theorists, the author: * covers key issues regarding paid industrial and service sector work: alienation, skill, post-industrial society, network enterprises in the informational society, flexibility, Fordism, neo-Fordism, post-Fordism McDonaldization, emotional labour, the destandardization of work and the social impact of unemployment * discusses key issues regarding non-paid work: domestic work as 'work', the impact of technology, the impact of feminism, feminization and globalization * provides student friendly pedagogy: suggestions for further reading, questions for discussion and assessment, an extensive glossary and links to key websites and downloadable articles.A superb teaching text this new edition will be welcomed by lecturers and students wanting an authoritative guide to the sociology of work.