'work-related' originates from the combination of 'work' and 'related', where 'work' refers to tasks or duties and 'related' means connected or associated.

'work' and 'related' have been used in English since the Middle Ages, with 'work' deriving from Old English 'weorc' and 'related' from Latin 'relatus'.

Initially, 'work-related' simply meant anything connected to work, and this meaning has remained consistent.