ABSTRACT
A working connection is a particular kind of connection. Erik Erikson (1974) tells the story of when Freud was asked what constituted a happy, healthy life he responded, to live and to work (lieben und arbeiten). Whether these are actually Freud’s words are debateable, but nevertheless, they point to the fact that these are two cornerstones of a contented life. In general, it is the love aspect that gets most attention, and this chapter seeks to redress this somewhat. Work, whether paid or unpaid, is good for our health and well-being. It contributes to our happiness, helps us to build confidence and self-esteem, and rewards us financially. A review by Waddell and Burton (2006) confirms that our physical and mental health is generally improved through work. We tend to recover from sickness faster and we are at less risk of long-term illness and incapacity when in employment. Conversely, being out of work has been demonstrated to have a negative impact on our health and well-being. People who are unemployed typically have higher rates of physical and mental health problems. Many take more medication and use more medical services, and have a shorter life expectancy.
