The good ol' Aussie weekend of barbecues, friends and family was becoming an endangered species thanks to work pressures, Anglican Bishop Alan Stewart said.

Bishop Stewart said the latest Bureau of Statistics figures on workplace trends were alarming.

"We have 22 per cent of employees working more than 50 hours a week. But it's not just how long we work, but when," Bishop Stewart said.

Statistics show that 30 per cent of the workforce work regularly at weekends, with almost a quarter of employees working on Sunday.

"We need to bring back a real weekend involving family and friends," Bishop Stewart said.

"I know a lot of people have no choice with weekend rosters but, really, do we need the services that are now provided by these employees?

"Shopping malls which are now open seven days a week are for many providing entertainment and that is a worry."

Bishop Stewart said many Australians grew up with a Sunday roast, cricket in the backyard or a day at the beach with family, and church.

"Yes, I'd like more people at church services, but I'm more interested in seeing the return of family interaction," he said.

"I'm not denying many Australians still know how to let their hair down on weekends, but it seems that 'togetherness' time we once had is being eroded by work pressures."

Bishop Stewart believes the lost weekend had much to do with the drive for dollars.

"But I'm wondering if Australians are waking up to the fact that is not enough," he said.

"The previous Federal government had created a strong economy yet it was not enough to get them across the line. I think the electorate wants things to change. They keep saying family is the most important thing in life, but it's time our working patterns reflected that."