The current discussions on the concept of work have not always clearly raised some of the central features it adopts in the tradition of critical social theory starting with Marx. This tradition has often put an emphasis on the relationship between work and human emancipation. In this direction, the article proposes three conceptual axes in addition to the already traditional “valorisation vs price” of work: broad versus narrow concept, productivism versus anti-productivism, and regulatory centrality versus non-centrality of work. From these analytical coordinates, some topical points are criticised about the concept of Marx’s work, and a number of paths are listed by which later Marxiist traditions have developed it. In particular, there is an analysis and criticism of the concept of work in Habermas.