From the opening night, work defines Shawshank. New inmates are stripped, hosed down, and thrown into the “wagon of fools.” The next morning, they begin their labor. Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a former vice president of a bank, is suddenly breaking rocks in the quarry. This is penal labor —backbreaking, monotonous, and intended to break the spirit.

If you are researching the "work" in terms of the movie's plot or themes, here is a quick summary:

The Ultimate Watch Guide: The Shawshank Redemption and Where It Works