This is terrible, unfair, and morally wrong, but we can understand what it comes from: this is a difference between the so-called "developed" and "developing" countries.
Because why do we work? To have money so that we can live comfortably. Work is not meant to fill in 40 or more hours of our life, it's just a means to and end. If we can have enough money by working less, many people chose this way. In the meantime, in most countries of the world it's not an option: you might need to work much more just to survive. A sad reality and something that I hope changes one day, once the old generations (thinking in terms of nations and wars and not realizing all human beings are mutually interdependent) pass away.
That's the difference between suppressing/co-opting grass roots worker movements versus negotiating with them and incorporating some leverage through rights and regulations. The 40h 5d workweek was a radical demand not so long ago.
Actually, intellectual work - that in most cases is done by sitting in front of a computer - also causes illnesses, just different from those caused by manual labor.
For me this is the largest boon of the pandemic revolution: I can take as many exercise breaks as I want without anyone judging me, I can do some parts of my work while cycling,* and I can adjust my work position they way I like. None of these is possible without disturbing my colleagues in the office.
*) Especially meetings! Man, so many of these are such a terrible waste of time! But not mine: I burn calories and become more fit. If only we could have been reasonable and implemented such policies without the need for a pandemic to erupt.
For the first year, I'd always take meetings (that weren't like 1-1 where I was expecting both to read closely and then talk about it, but the big group meetings with 5 or 10 people and not much usefulness) either walking around the block or else pacing around the house. Actually, even for the 1-1 meetings the pacing is very helpful.
For some reason I stopped that as the Covid wore on.
C'mon, they're obviously speaking for the majority but yes, as you've stated there is a minority that finds their work fun and meaningful. That is incredibly lucky and great for you!
Actually, I do like my work but I prefer to have a choice whether to work, say, 30 hours and earn slightly less or work "full time" (what a terrible choice of words) and earn the same as my colleagues. Most employers don't give me that choice and force me to work 40 hours.
Because why do we work? To have money so that we can live comfortably. Work is not meant to fill in 40 or more hours of our life, it's just a means to and end. If we can have enough money by working less, many people chose this way. In the meantime, in most countries of the world it's not an option: you might need to work much more just to survive. A sad reality and something that I hope changes one day, once the old generations (thinking in terms of nations and wars and not realizing all human beings are mutually interdependent) pass away.