Meaning of work (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Work:

As work we call the set of activities that are carried out with the aim of reaching a goal, solving a problem or producing goods and services to meet human needs.

The word work comes from the Latin tripaliāre , and this in turn from tripalĭum , which was a kind of yoke to whip slaves in the Roman Empire.

Over time, the use of the word expanded to refer to an activity that caused physical pain and was associated with work in the field, but its use extended to other human activities.

Thanks to work, human beings begin to conquer their own space, as well as the respect and consideration of others, which also contributes to their self-esteem, personal satisfaction and professional achievement, without counting on the contribution they make to society.

The meaning of work has focuses in various areas, such as economics, physics, philosophy, etc.

I work in physics

In physics, work is a scalar physical quantity that is used to measure the energy necessary for the application of a force during a certain time of displacement.

This magnitude is represented by the letter W (from English work) and is expressed in energy units known as Joules (J). It is calculated using a formula, which is the multiplication of force by displacement.

T = F. d

Work can be a positive or negative number, since for work to be positive the force must act in the direction of displacement, and for it to be negative, the force has to be exerted in the opposite direction.

In this sense, the work can be divided into:

• Null work: that is when the work is equal to zero. Motor work: that is when the force and displacement are in the same direction. Resistant work: which is the opposite of motor work, that is, when the force and displacement are in opposite directions.

I work in economics

For the economy, work is the number of hours a person dedicates to do an activity of a productive nature, such as the generation of goods or services.

The work can be of two types:

Intellectual work

It is any activity that is the result of the inventiveness and ideas of a person and that does not require physical effort. For example, the work of an advertising creative, a writer or a scientific researcher.

Physical work

It is any productive activity that requires physical or manual skills, such as field work, construction, mechanics, etc.

Work and employment

Work and employment are not always interchangeable synonyms. Work is a task that does not necessarily give the worker financial compensation.

An example of the above is the current debate in some countries on the feasibility of paying for housework, considering that it requires the execution of multiple tasks, and that it is an activity that generates a positive impact on society.

Employment, meanwhile, employment is a position or position that an individual occupies in a company or institution, where their work (physical or intellectual) is duly remunerated.

The concept of employment, in this sense, is much more recent than that of work, since it emerged during the Industrial Revolution.

Autonomous work

Self-employment or independent work is one in which an individual exercises his activity as a free professional, that is, he is not linked or subject to any company.

In general, self-employment is carried out by people who work in commercial or business activities. It is also known by the English term freelancer.

Telecommuting

Teleworking is the activity carried out by a person external to the facilities of the company for which he provides services.

Nowadays, the advancement of information and communication technologies has allowed telework to become one of the modalities increasingly implemented by companies, since in many cases it translates into a reduction in expenses, a lower investment in equipment and in some cases, a simplification of processes.

Slave labor

Slave labor designates a form of forced labor that is illegal. It is a type of work that is not paid or is insufficiently paid, in which the worker is exploited, mistreated and his freedom and rights are restricted.

Slave labor is based on the old model in which people were forced to perform multiple tasks (which almost always involved the use of physical force) without receiving any incentive in return, or too little to survive; All of this was generally done under torture and mistreatment.

Although slave labor is supposed to be banned worldwide, people and organizations that promote this type of illegal activity continue to be denounced today, especially in economically depressed countries or areas.

Child labor

Child labor is that carried out by children and adolescents who are below the legal minimum age allowed to work, according to the legislation of each country.

Despite being prohibited, child labor is still practiced in some countries where, as a consequence of situations of poverty and scarcity, children are forced to work to survive or to help support their families.

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), child labor involves:

• That it is dangerous and that it can threaten the physical, mental or moral integrity of the minor, that it interferes with their schooling process, either because they are forced to leave school, or because the amount and type of work prevents them from complying with your school obligations.

Labor Day

Labor Day, also called International Workers' Day, is a commemorative date in which the struggles and labor demands reached by the world labor movement are remembered. It is celebrated almost everywhere in the world every May 1st.

The date is a form of tribute to the "Chicago Martyrs," a group of workers who died in the United States while protesting the reduction of working hours.

Curiously, in the United States, the place that gave rise to this commemoration, Labor Day is not celebrated on May 1, but on the first Monday in September ( Labor Day ).

See more about Labor Day.

Voluntary work

Voluntary work is one that a person does without receiving any kind of compensation for it, only for the satisfaction of helping others.

This type of work is often associated with various social causes, such as those carried out by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other non-profit institutions, in which people must be willing to work without receiving remuneration in return. It is very common among university students.

Today, there are many causes that you can join as a volunteer worker, such as children in vulnerable situations, care for the environment, rescue of abandoned animals, care for the elderly, etc.

Teamwork

Teamwork is defined as that carried out by a group of people in a coordinated and collaborative way, to achieve a goal or solve a problem.

It is a way of working where the functions are distributed among the team members to carry out the tasks together in a faster, more effective and efficient way.

It is essential in the organizational sphere, as well as in various sports, such as soccer, basketball or volleyball, where everyone contributes to achieving common goals.

Collaborative work

Collaborative work is one that is carried out thanks to the participation of a group of people focused on achieving a common goal.

It is a type of work carried out simultaneously and decentralized by a group of experts or connoisseurs, who put their knowledge at the service of the project. Therefore, there is no exclusive author.

This way of working applies, above all, information and communication technologies (ICT).

Workplan

A work plan consists of organizing a series of activities to carry out a task.

It is a management tool that allows prioritizing, ordering and systematizing the steps necessary to complete a project, as well as establishing a work schedule, dividing up responsibilities and defining objectives.

It is a very useful tool in organizations, since it facilitates decision making.

Academic works

Academic assignments are the tasks that are required of students who attend university educational institutions, and that are intended to develop the critical spirit and intellectual capacity of the students.

They can be exclusively written and must be submitted for the teaching evaluation. Many academic papers require an oral presentation to an audience.

There are different types of academic works, for example, theses, monographs, articles or papers , reports, reviews, essays, among others.

Field work

There is talk of field work in reference to that carried out outside the office or laboratory, in the place where a phenomenon or process takes place.

The field work is made up of all the notes, observations, drawings, photos, data collection or samples taken in the field where an investigation is being carried out. It is a term associated with the natural and social sciences.

Social work

Social work is a discipline that is responsible for promoting changes of social order, solving problems in human relationships and strengthening individuals and groups to increase their well-being.

Among the functions of a social worker are:

• The articulation of networks between people and the various social organizations. Stimulate the social participation of citizens. Guide communities to establish mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Labor

Labor is known as the set of events that occur to lead the birth of a baby.

Labor begins with cervical dilation and ends with delivery of the placenta. It can be spontaneous or induced, that is, it can evolve naturally or it can be controlled by the doctor, when he intervenes with a series of techniques that assure delivery.

In this sense, the birth of the baby can occur naturally, vaginally, or it can occur through an extraction surgery, called cesarean section.

This process is also called "labor."