The objectification of labor refers to the process by which labor is transformed into a commodity, reducing the worker's connection to their own work and the products of that work. This process leads to alienation, where workers feel disconnected from their labor, as it becomes merely a means to an end rather than a fulfilling activity. In a capitalist system, labor is objectified and commodified, meaning that it is bought and sold in the market, leading to a sense of powerlessness and lack of meaning for the worker. They become a cog in the machine, performing tasks that do not reflect their humanity or creativity, and their labor is valued only in terms of its market price rather than its intrinsic worth.