The working day may be longer or shorter depending on the type of work.
Work is a term derived from the Latin word tripalĭum, which has several uses. Therefore, the theoretical definition of the concept can be analyzed from different perspectives.
A basic approach presents this notion as the valuation of the effort made by a human being . However, from the neoclassical perspective of economics , to cite another case as an example, work consists of one of the three elements that determine all production , as is the case with land and money .
A paid action or activity
In this way, and approaching what all citizens normally understand by work, we can determine that the word can be used in two very frequent ways. Thus, on the one hand, we refer to it as the action carried out by a person who is busy carrying out a series of tasks or activities, whether at a physical or intellectual level .
On the other hand, we use this same term to refer to any occupation that a man or woman has outside their home for which they receive a monthly economic allowance . Thus, for example, we could use the following example: "Luisa has a job as a waitress in a bar downtown."
From forced labour to wage labour
If one goes back to distant eras, one can see that slavery was prevalent in the past, a form of forced labour that occurs when an individual subjects another person to make decisions and act on his own free will. From the mid -nineteenth century , levels of slavery began to decline and this type of work was declared illegal . Since then, wage labour has become the most common form of employment.
This conception of the notion of work leads to the understanding that when an individual carries out a certain productive activity he is rewarded with a salary , which is the price that is placed on the task that he carries out within the work environment. The employment relationship between the person offering employment and the worker is formalised with an employment contract and is conditioned and supported by different laws and agreements , although there are also cases in everyday life of what is called black market work (those contracts made illegally that allow workers to be exploited and profited from).
Labor regulations govern the employment relationship between employer and employee.
Different modalities
Other forms of employment that can be detected worldwide are productive self-employment (through which liberal professions and commerce are exercised, for example), informal survival work and servitude , among others.
Although pro bono work that does not involve monetary compensation (generally performed for social or educational purposes) is a reality, work is considered to be an activity that is carried out in exchange for financial compensation . That is why there is a colloquial phrase that states that "work is something you would not do if you were not paid for it."
Work as a physical place and as a punishment
However, in addition to all of the above, it should be noted that trabajo is a noun that has many other meanings. In this way, it is also used to refer to the place where the development of the occupation takes place (an office, a production plant, etc.): «Miguel was not at home, he was at work», «I will come to visit you when I get off work», «My work is downtown».
And all this without forgetting that there are a series of expressions that use the concept in question as a fundamental part. Thus, there is also talk of "forced labour" , which is that which is carried out by force and as part of their sentence by people who are in certain prisons.
A performance appraisal can help a person get a raise based on their job performance.
Job Search
Finding a job is an important part of most adults' lives. It is essential to have some means of subsistence and it is work that allows almost all people to earn money to meet their needs.
Typically, an individual interested in working prepares a CV (curriculum vitae) detailing his or her training and work history. This document can be sent to companies that advertise that they are looking for workers or it can even be submitted spontaneously.
Typically, beyond reviewing the CV, the company interested in hiring a candidate will call the candidate for a job interview . This meeting allows the potential employer to get to know the potential employee by talking to him or her.
The meeting usually discusses the employee's rights and obligations, agreeing on issues such as overtime, paid holidays and teleworking possibilities. It can also be defined whether the job is full-time (requiring full availability from the employee) or part-time (half-day) employment .
Self-employment
Self-employment is an interesting alternative when a person is unemployed and cannot find a company to hire him. This allows him to develop his profession independently or start a productive business , for example.
While this has several advantages and gives them flexibility in terms of work schedules and other issues, the self-employed suffer from problems such as the lack of paid vacations and Christmas bonuses. Sometimes, they are not even able to contribute to their retirement.