Engagement and Work Overload: The Paradox of the Meaning of Work in School Teachers in Cali, Colombia

Given the importance of work for human beings, this study aimed to understand the configuration of the meaning of work among schoolteachers in the city of Cali within the context of changing work conditions. A total of 132 teachers from both the public and private sector participated in the research. A content analysis was conducted on the collected data, revealing categories of the meaning of work predominantly narrated in a positive way, with a strong sense of commitment and a defense of the vocation of teaching. Teaching was perceived as a profession carried out for the future of the country, even in the face of challenging work conditions such as excessive workload, job insecurity, and the impact of public and private policies.