Práce

Práce is a Czech term that denotes work or labor. In everyday language it can refer to the activity of producing goods or delivering services, as well as to employment or a specific job. Common phrases include “jít do práce” (to go to work) and “práce na plný úvazek” (full-time work). The word encompasses both the act of labor and the outcome of that labor, and it is contrasted with terms such as odborná práce (specialized work) or brigáda (part-time job).

Historically, work has been the central means by which economies organize production and sustain societies. Societies have developed varying systems to regulate work, including hours, wages, safety, and workers’ rights. In the Czech Republic, employment relations are governed by labor law, social security provisions, and norms aligned with European Union standards. Distinctions are made between the worker (zaměstnanec) and the employer (zaměstnavatel), with contractual arrangements shaping terms of employment, benefits, and protections.

In physics, the term also appears as a technical concept: work (práce) is the transfer of energy to an object when a force acts on it over a distance. It is calculated as the product of force and displacement (W = F·d) and is measured in joules in the SI system. This use is independent of the social meaning of work but shares the underlying idea of exertion yielding a measurable outcome.

Contemporary discourse on work covers topics such as unemployment and underemployment, job quality, wage levels, and work-life balance. Developments in remote and flexible work, the gig economy, and automation influence modern labor markets and societal expectations surrounding work.