Work can offer income, social contact and a sense of contribution. Someone may feel alienated when a task offers little control, its purpose is unclear or its outcome seems unrelated to their effort. The word points to a relationship between people and the organisation of work, not a diagnosis of an individual employee.
Asking only whether a worker is motivated misses the conditions around the job. Look at whether people understand who benefits, have room to use skills and can influence decisions that affect their work.