“When there were the most staff on duty there were the fewest users, and when there were the most users there were the fewest staff… Those providing for leisure and working in leisure must, by definition, be most available during other people’s leisure time.”
(Worpole. K, 1992, Pg 31)
As a consequence in today’s lucrative and thriving ‘exercise industry’, most staff are present during the evening. This means that while others use their time to enjoy themselves and spend time with their families, the staff employed in the leisure industry are unable to. “It [the 24 Hour Society] propagates the diminishing importance of family rituals (such as mealtimes)” (Hubbard et al, 2002, pg 206)
On a small scale such as the one mentioned by Worpole, this may seem trivial, when extrapolated onto a global scale the full impact can be seen.
“The increasing disposability of products, places and images dictates the growth of ‘just-in-time’ production, so that workers are expected to be more flexible in their working hours (and companies lay claim to their whole life, not just the period they are paid to work). (Hubbard et al, 2002, pg 207)
Here I think it is important to highlight the social inequalities the establishment of a 24 hour society creates. Depending on both your location within society, and the location of that society in the global network; “The connected society is both liberating and imprisoning” (Krietzman. L, 1999, “Pg 149)
The evening economy is an essential factor in establishing an effective 24 hour society. Attracting people who would not ordinarily be present is a key idea in both policy making and the success of a 24 hour society. In the 24 hour city “The key feature of the evening economy is alcohol licensing.” (Johnston et al, 2000, Pg 419)
By relaxing alcohol licensing councils accept that there must also be increased service provision which includes increased refuse collection and more community policing.
“Clubs and Bars participate in ‘responsible host’ schemes, designed to manage not only entry, but also the departure of customers.” (Krietzman. L, 1999, Pg 140)
This notion of responsibility, while central to the evening economy recognises the detriment it can cause socially. Here there is more inequality between those using the 24 hour environment for recreation and those who live in the areas they use. These are often city centres, where many inhabitants are constrained to live in the low-cost housing that is most effected by an influx of ‘outsiders’.
Within the service sector can be found both the lowest paid and worst effected actors in the 24 hour society. With the importance of offices synchronizing to world markets, they are often only fully vacated during the night or early hours of the morning. As a consequence those employed to clean the buildings must do so during these times. Quite apart from the effects that has on family and recreation, the most damaging and worrying factor is the impact working consistent night shifts has on the body. The bodies biorhythms, core temperature and blood pressures are all at their lowest during the hours of night-and all these have an impact on brain activity. Although hard to quantify, a study by the Association of British Insurers in 2000 stated that:
“When the number of accidents in relation to employees and the hours they worked are compared between day-time and night-time workers, an increased risk of injury, up to 40% can be expected during a night shift.”(Lloyds of London, 1999, pg1178 in Action Group14 “The association of British Insurers, 2000)
The sphere of industry which has limited the detrimental social effects of a 24 hour culture is that of High-Technology. The research and development can mainly be attributed to affiliations with educational institutions, most if not all manufacture and after-care is outsourced, often internationally. The choice of certain locations, located in different timezones allows for 24 hour service provision, with more traditional working timeframes. An example of this occurs at a well known university at the heart of a truly 24 hour city, The London School of Economics. As part of a joint initiative with an Australian institution, IT support is provided on a 24 hour basis, with each IT department covering the hours of normal closure. Ironically this can only be achieved with the advances in communication technology which established the 24 hour society, and the social implications that impact as a consequence.
While it can be said that technology has created the climate in which a 24 hour society can be established:
“As [cities]try to reinvent themselves, the 24 hour society is more a collection of ideas and methods than a literal description.”
(Krietzman. L, 1999, pg 38)
These ideas and methods employed by policy makers and industrial actors have no less social impacts on society.
Bibliography
Hubbard. P, Kitchen. R, Bartley. B and Fuller. D, 2002, “Thinking
Geographically; Space, Theory and contemporary Human Geography”, Continuum Books.
Johnston. R. J, Gregory. D, Pratt. G and Watts. M, “The Dictionary of Human Geography”, 2000 (4 ed), Blackwell)
Krietzman. L, 1999, “The 24 hour society”, Pg 149, profile books, London
Lloyds of London, 1999, Action Group14 “The association of British Insurers”, 14th of Feburary 2000”
Worpole. K, 1992, “Time and Space in the Modern Town” in “Towns for People, Pg 29, OUP, Milton Keynes
