The Overworked American in 1992, concluded that in 1990 Americans worked an average of nearly one month more per year than in 1970. There are also volumes of surveys that ask people if they're working more than they used to. Generally, people say yes , of course they are. And they also estimate almost 10 more hours a week than the government does. Dissenters to overworked-American theories say it's better to base studies on employers' reports of worker hours , which is what the government does, but that leaves out overtime hours worked by salaried employees.
Critics also point to what they say is a growing number of part-time jobs.
Here's where you have to ask which workers we're really talking about. All those books have been embraced by a large part of the public that apparently feels harassed by the pressures of the workplace. They aren't the only ones finding long hours in at least certain parts of the workforce. Eleven million of those said they worked more than 59 hours a week. Fraser, after four years of interviews, concludes they are white-collar workers, who do not punch a clock and whose hours therefore are the most difficult to track.