This study examines the evolving nature of work and work practices through the perspectives of young professionals from Transylvania employed in the contemporary corporate sector. Empirical data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with participants and information derived from personal data forms they completed. The first research question investigates how environmental factors shape participants’ perceptions of work and their definitions of meaningful work. The second explores the balance between the economic and moral dimensions of work, focusing on how participants might reorganize their lives if material wealth were accessible without the necessity of employment. The third question addresses an ethical dilemma concerning resource exploitation and its implications for human dignity. The findings indicate that early socialization experiences, particularly within familial and educational settings, play a significant role in shaping individuals’ perceptions of work. Furthermore, even in the presence of material wealth, participants expressed a strong sense of moral obligation to contribute to their communities. One of the study’s central claims is that the moral dimension of work does not entirely disappear, despite the rules of the modern labor market.
Keywords: meaningful work, human dignity, unconditional basic income, community, young professionals, corporate sector
