The concepts of work found in literature distinguish themselves and approach the subject from different perspectives. Aiming to expand and update the reflection on work and its implications for workers, this article presents the main characteristics of human work throughout history from the perspective of industrial revolutions and the potential impacts that the Industry 4.0 paradigm has on it. As critical components of the social sustainability pillar, work and workers must be a focal point in the face of technological changes with potential impacts. To achieve this, impressions of professionals from academic and industrial institutions in Brazil and Germany were collected through self-administered questionnaires and subjected to content analysis. The process highlights impacts ranging from physical aspects of work environments to psychological effects on workers. Ultimately, the article concludes by offering a thoughtful reflection on future guidelines for human work in the context of the new industrial model.