Labor energetics through the prism of time

This article attempts to elucidate the essence and significance of the "labor energetics" problem, which originated in the first quarter of the 20th century. It emerged at the intersection of two fields of knowledge: labor physiology, which studies changes in a worker's state during labor activity, and Frederick W. Taylor's scientific management, which investigates effective forms of labor organization. This concept enabled the solution of a wide range of problems related to the implementation of rational work and rest regimes, ensuring the evenness of the labor process, occupational safety, organizing proper nutrition, and maintaining the physical and mental health of workers. Based on this, it became possible to scientifically develop standards for working hours for various professions, as well as to determine their retirement ages. The concept helped to focus attention on issues of labor intensity, worker fatigue and overwork, establishing a direct link between job content, working conditions, and the time of loss of working capacity. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, the concept was unjustly forgotten in the second half of the 20th century. Furthermore, recent decades have seen a degradation in the practical issues that this concept once helped to solve and regulate. This article is written precisely to demonstrate the relevance and significance of the labor energetics concept in the 21st century and the necessity of re-evaluating its principles in the context of new cycles of technological and social development. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

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