following the less successful chart performances of previous singles "like this" and "ghetto", "work" was released during the first quarter of 2008 (see 2008 in music) as the album's second single in most international music markets. the song has since enjoyed commercial success, becoming rowland's best-charting solo single since her 2002 song "stole," reaching the top of the charts in bulgaria and poland, as well as the top 10 in australia, finland, france, ireland, malta, poland, switzerland and the united kingdom.