What Is Work – Definition, Meaning And Concept

Depending on the type of work that can be had, some will enjoy it, while others will see it as a punishment. No matter how you look at it, the truth is that work is essential.

Thanks to work we can obtain certain benefits. For example, the most outstanding is the salary. This allows us to satisfy our basic needs and, if we have a family, also that of the members that make it up.

  • It is true that many times the work of a single person is not enough to be able to live in a dignified manner. But, this will also depend on the country in which you work. If it is a prosperous country, then they will be able to enjoy a better quality of life, even if they earn relatively little for their work.
  • The opposite also is true. If the country is in crisis, no matter how much you work like an animal itself, you will not be able to have even the basics to have a peaceful life. This is the harsh reality of hundreds of people around the world.
  • For this reason, it is a real regret for them to go to work. For them, it is not a rewarding job. On the contrary, it is a labor of great effort and for this reason, they long for the holiday seasons to be able to rest from the exhausting daily routine.
  • However, the counterpart sees things from a very different perspective. Those who enjoy their work do not see it as a simple way to have money but as an opportunity to distract themselves from the confinement of their homes. They enjoy it and, therefore, the time they spend working is very short for them. But is that a realistic way of thinking?
  • Can an activity that gives us pleasure be considered work? What is work? Let’s see it.

Instructions

  • In reality, it must be borne in mind that the word work is very encompassing. Work can be called the entire set of activities that are carried out to achieve a goal or solve a problem, without taking into account the characteristics of the person or their circumstances.
  • The word work comes from Latin, a word that referred to a kind of yoke that was used to punish slaves in the Roman Empire. However, over time, this word was expanded to refer to any activity that caused physical pain.
  • The need to work originated many years ago when a man followed his instinct to survive and perpetuate himself as a species. The man had to use all his potential and resources to obtain food, clothing, housing, utensils, tools, and even weapons to defend himself and his loved ones.
  • In a broad sense, work is everything that man does for his enjoyment and well-being. Everything that allows him to satisfy his primary needs. At the same time, thanks to work, he has the opportunity to accumulate material and spiritual wealth that benefits not only the individual himself but his entire family and even his country.
  • The word work can have different approaches and its meaning can vary depending on the context in which it is used.
  • For example, in the area of ​​the economy, the word work is related to the number of hours that a person dedicates to carrying out an activity, to generate some good or service. In this sense, the work can be divided into two types:
  • Intellectual work: this is all that activity that is the product of a person’s ideas and that, as its name suggests, does not require any physical effort. Among them, we could mention the work of a writer, an advertising executive, or a scientific researcher.
  • Physical work: this is the counterpart of intellectual work. It is about any activity that requires physical or manual skills and abilities. For example, fieldwork, mechanics, masonry, etc.
  • This is the meaning with which we usually associate the word work. Within this scope, it is also possible to find other branches of work. Among them is self-employment.
  • It also receives the name of independent work and it is about that activity carried out by a person on their account. That is, it is not linked to any other person or public or private entity.
  • Almost always the people who carry out this type of work are related to commercial or business activities. In English, they are known by the term Freelancer.
  • There is also the so-called telecommuting. These are those activities carried out by the person outside the company’s facilities but which, in the same way, are linked to it. That is, it is a job that is provided.
  • Thanks to advances in technology, today teleworking has become a modality widely used by companies. Since this brings as a consequence the reduction of expenses, by investing less in equipment. Simplification of some routine processes is also possible.
  • In fact, more and more people are working this way. This also allows them to not neglect certain responsibilities, such as raising children while working at home. These types of activities make it possible to reconcile work and family life.
  • On the other hand, although it is less common, there is volunteer work. These are activities that a person performs without receiving any kind of monetary compensation. He does it simply for the satisfaction of helping other people.
  • Typically, this work is related to social causes and non-profit organizations. This is very common among university students and is a fundamental requirement to receive your degree.
  • Now, what else do you need to know about the job? Continue reading if you want to find out more about this topic.

What do you need

  • It is important that you keep in mind that the word work is not always synonymous with employment. Work, as we have pointed out before, is about a task. However, this task does not always have an economic compensation.
  • We can take homework as an example. In some countries, the possibility of paying for this type of work has been studied, since it entails carrying out a large number of activities, many of which generate a positive impact on society.
  • In the case of employment, we can say that it is a position or position that a person occupies in a company. The work carried out in it can be of a physical or intellectual nature. No matter what it is, it will always be paid.
  • Therefore, since the word employment arose as a consequence of the industrial revolution, it is not wrong to affirm that it is a much more recent word than that of work.
  • Likewise, it is also necessary that you know that the work can be done individually but also as a team. It is the activity carried out by a group of people in a coordinated and cooperative way, with the purpose of solving a problem or reaching a specific goal.
  • In this type of work, the functions are distributed according to the abilities and experiences of each one of the members of the group or team. This allows tasks to be executed in a much faster, more effective, and more efficient way.
  • Teamwork is essential in the organizational field. The same could be said in the case of sports such as soccer, baseball, or basketball, where each one of the players fulfills a role to achieve the common objectives that have been set.

Tips

  • Whether you work from home or on a team, you need to adhere to certain ground rules so that things at work can run smoothly. Otherwise, if you persist in doing everything your way, chances are you will soon become unemployed.
  • There are behaviors that you should avoid, be it for health, coexistence, or safety. You must remember that your behavior also affects your co-workers and they can become a hindrance to performing their duties well.
  • Do not abuse the resources of the company or the place where you work. Keep in mind that these should only be used to perform the work assigned to you. If you take them and take them to your house without permission, it is considered that you are stealing and that could bring serious consequences ranging from dismissal to jail.
  • Remember that you must promote a good working environment, how can you do it? When you bring say hello and when you leave, say goodbye. It is simply a matter of putting the rules of courtesy into practice. Although it seems to be something insignificant, it can bring great benefits to everyone who makes up the work team.
  • Stick to your set schedule. Arrive at the time established in your employment contract and leave when stipulated. It shouldn’t be before. The same applies if you work from home. Although it can represent quite a challenge, out of respect for your work, you must comply with the agreed schedule.
  • If you put into practice every one of the recommendations that we have given you, surely things will go better in your work and you will be able to keep it for many years. Remember that this is how you can satisfy your basic needs and those of your family.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top