What a Letter from 40 Years Ago Taught Me About Meaningful Work
- Rousse Lavalle
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
Recently, on one of those sleepless nights where important questions arise, I found myself asking myself: What makes work truly meaningful?
I then remembered a document I had read years ago: John Paul II's encyclical "Laborem Exercens."
A 1981 text that, surprisingly, speaks directly to many of our current concerns.
A message that resonates with me
What moved me about this letter was not its theological aspects, but its profound understanding of human dignity at work. When I read about how all work must respect the dignity of those who do it, I thought of the times I've seen people treated like mere cogs in a machine.
It made me think: how many decisions have I made really considering the dignity of
the people affected?
Technology: Ally or Threat?
In a time when AI and automation generate both excitement and anxiety, I found his vision of technology incredibly relevant: it should be a tool to assist workers, not replace them.
I've found myself having this same conversation with colleagues recently. Is the technology we design and implement unleashing human potential or simply displacing it?
What really matters
I was also deeply resonated with his call for an economy based on what is right and just, not just efficiency. In a world obsessed with metrics, we sometimes forget to ask ourselves if what we are measuring has true human value.
And his emphasis on combating poverty reminded me that, ultimately, the success of any economic system should be measured by how it treats the most vulnerable.
Necessary conversations
Perhaps what I value most is his call for dialogue between employers and workers. In my experience, the most transformative moments in organizations have arisen when different perspectives meet with genuine openness.
A timeless message
I'm surprised by how a text written more than four decades ago can feel so relevant today. Perhaps because it speaks to fundamental principles that transcend trends and economic cycles: the inherent dignity of every person, shared responsibility, and the need for just structures.
Have you had the experience of finding wisdom from unexpected sources? What principles do you think should guide our relationship with work in this era of accelerated transformation?
I would love to hear your thoughts.
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This blog is complemented by the microlearning program "Encyclical Laborem Exercens," which I developed as part of my commitment to promoting meaningful and dignified work.
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