Cambridge Forum kicks off a new series considering the changing nature of work with Simone Stolzoff, journalist and author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work.

From the moment we ask children what they want to “be” when they grow up, we teach them a fateful lesson: we are what we do.  For many Americans, jobs have become akin to a religious identity – they provide a paycheck, but also meaning, community and a sense of purpose.  The question is at what cost and are we asking too much of our jobs, to fulfill all these needs.  Stolzoff examines how work has come to dominate our lives and why we find it difficult to separate identity and self-worth from our jobs. He also explains what we lose when we expect too much from our careers and offers strategies on how to build a healthier relationship with work.

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“People think our 11-month year is radical or that we’re lazy.  To me, it’s just common sense to give workers a proper break. When we look at the works systems around us, many are clearly struggling.  Poor mental health is costing UK business 56 billion pounds a year due to absenteeism and burnout caused by greater job demands and expectations, plus lack of social interaction and lack of boundaries between work and home life.  So work isn’t working for many of us!” Jo Hunter