Two perspectives on leisure at work

This study examines how employees across diverse work environments respond to varying employer approaches to workplace leisure. Based on qualitative research with employees and employers from both knowledge-intensive and service sectors, our findings reveal leisure as an inherent element of working hours, regardless of organisational policy. While knowledge industry settings often support leisure through flexible arrangements and autonomy-supportive climates, service sector environments typically restrict these opportunities. Nevertheless, employees in restrictive environments strategically create leisure moments by leveraging organisational knowledge and surveillance blind spots. The study identifies variations in leisure preferences based on gender, work attitudes, and generational differences, demonstrating that employer-incorporated leisure activities prove effective only when aligned with employees’ micro-level preferences. This research contributes to understanding workplace leisure as a complex phenomenon shaped by structural factors, interpersonal dynamics, and individual agency.