Work is more than an economic transaction. For most people, it is a central source of identity, structure, social connection, and — at its best — meaning. Yet the conditions under which work happens have changed dramatically. Precarious employment, algorithmic management, zero-hours contracts, and the erosion of worker solidarity have left many people feeling alienated from their labour in ways that echo, and in some respects exceed, what Marx described in industrial capitalism. At the same time, a growing literature on the psychology of work suggests that autonomy, mastery, and purpose — not salary alone — are the primary drivers of fulfilment. The question of what we owe each other in work — dignity, security, meaningful contribution — is not merely economic. It is philosophical, and increasingly urgent.

💡 Did you know? The word 'salary' comes from the Latin 'salarium', meaning salt payment. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt — a precious commodity. 'Worth their salt' is still used to mean competent and deserving.