ichidan verb, transitive verb
put to work; make work
Used when someone causes another person to work, often with a nuance of making them do labor or employing them.
See also: 働かす
社長は新入社員を夜遅くまで働かせた。
The boss made the new employee work until late at night.
That company makes its employees work too much.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
Used with abstract faculties such as 頭, 想像力, 理性, 自制心, etc., meaning to put them to active use.
もっと頭を働かせて考えなさい。
Use your head more and think.
彼は想像力を働かせて、新しいデザインを考え出した。
He exercised his imagination and came up with a new design.