Seriousness at work

What is it about seriousness at work? Just because we are talking about work, do we need to become serious? Is there something about work being all work and no play?

Somedays, i feel that people need to justify receiving a salary, and so needs to suffer to justify this money and thus should not enjoy themselves - this is definitely something christian here... Otherwise, when people are enjoying themselves, look happy, their boss could imagine they do not need the salary or at least the raise. Is there a secret salary ladder depending on the perceived hardness of the corporate job? Obviously the ladder is inverse to the blue collar one where the most painfull jobs are the least paid....

I can see this as the only reason why so many people feel sad and serious at work? Any other idea anybody?

That could be the only positive output of the current crisis: that people can feel happy to work and not bear bad feelings about it.