antiwork

Antiwork is a loosely defined current of thought and activism that questions or resists the central role of wage labor in capitalist society. Rather than opposing work per se, antiwork movements critique how work is organized, paid, and valued, arguing that many jobs are stultifying, exploitative, or unnecessary and that people should have greater control over how they spend their time.

Participants include online communities, labor organizers, scholars, and social critics who advocate for reforms such as reduced work hours, stronger social protections, or alternative economic arrangements. Common themes include addressing burnout, job precarity, wage stagnation, and the alienation associated with routine or undervalued labor. Proposals often emphasize universal social supports (for example, universal basic income), a four-day workweek, stronger workers’ rights, and democratic or cooperative control of workplaces. Some supporters also advocate for reduced overall dependence on paid work, aiming for a society where nonwork activities and caregiving are recognized and funded.

Historically, antiwork ideas echo critiques of wage labor that extend back to socialist and anarchist thought, while recent online discussion and labor activism have popularized the term. The movement is not homogeneous; participants disagree on strategy, the goals of reform versus abolition, and the best economic models to pursue.

Critics argue that wholesale antipathy to work can undermine productivity, economic growth, and funding for social programs. Others caution against conflating legitimate calls for better working conditions with broader or more radical political aims. Proponents counter that meaningful reforms can improve well-being while preserving essential economic activity.

See also: four-day workweek, universal basic income, labor rights, workplace democracy.