This book examines trends and problems in Canadian workplaces and advocates a people-centered agenda for improving the quality of working life. Chapters 1-9 discuss the following topics: the future of work; the crisis in work; what Canadians want from work; the "new economy"; education, skills, and the knowledge economy; youth and work; "putting people first"; workplace innovation; and unions and the quality agenda. Chapter 10 proposes the following principles of higher-quality work for assessing overall work trends, employers' practices, government policies, and the agendas of unions and professional associations: (1) a basic right to work that provides a decent living standard and economic security; (2) mutual trust among employers and workers; (3) opportunities for all workers to constructively participate in decision making regarding their working conditions; (4) a culture of openness regarding information about the business and provision of the resources workers need to use the information effectively; (5) healthy and safe work environments developed through collaboration between workers and employers; (6) work environments supportive of a balanced life; (7) encouragement of innovation based on workers' initiative and creativity; and (8) opportunities to use and further develop skills, knowledge, and abilities in the course of doing one's job. (Contains 12 figures and 446 endnotes.)(MN)