Concept and assessment of the state of humanization of labor: a systemic approach and Russian practice
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The economy develops through the utilization of various factors. For the fifth industrial revolution, one such factor is humanization of work, which involves organizing processes and interactions around employees. This implies that, when structuring production activities, it is essential to take into account the characteristics of staff. With this approach, each aspect of work depends on employee attributes. Through this approach, in which employees are central to organizational processes, it is possible to achieve optimal efficiency. Therefore, humanization refers to a situation where employee interests are maximally integrated into production activities. Although the concept of humanization dates back approximately two centuries, it remains important to explore this issue in the digital economy, where tools and methods of labor are changing. The article examines the evolution of ideas about humanization of work, from the situation of total dehumanization (estrangement) as described by Karl Marx and his followers to the current state of "humanization 2.0". The worker is completely removed from production and all tasks are automated. Humanization is seen as a complex system involving interactions between workers, tools and work environment. The methodology and findings from the RLMS survey in Russia are presented to assess the current situation. Discrepancies in different aspects of humanization and limitations in data are noted.
Author: Tatiana A. Lapina
Institution: Omsk State University
Language: English
Topic: Ergonomics and Human Factors
Subfield: Human Factors and Ergonomics
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7213459641