If you could explain to the people of an earlier time all our modern conveniences and how many hours we work and how little physical effort goes into almost every job, it would probably sound just like that to them.
If you go just far enough back, the hours we work would sound ridiculous (but I do agree about the effort).
You have to be careful what you are calling work when you make a comparison like that. We might just be calling more things "work." How many people are artists, musicians, writers, comedians, or chefs?
It would probably sound more like a retelling of the "businessman and fisherman" joke.
Depends which era. The workers of the 8-hour work week era would not be impressed.