"discouraging work" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it to describe something that deters or impedes one's progress, such as a task that is too difficult or a challenging situation. For example, "The steep learning curve of his new job was discouraging work for him at first."
This would ease deprivation without discouraging work, but will not be easy to get through Congress.
Existing schemes withdraw benefits from low earners as they earn more, discouraging work and so trapping some in poverty.
Sometimes so-called tax cuts and tax credits can reduce spending by discouraging work and redirecting economic activity to less-productive uses.
Welfare had become a trap that hurt more Americans than it helped, discouraging work and contributing to the breakdown of the family.
For decades there has been debate about how to help the poor without discouraging work, saving or marriage.
During a 1984 tour in Malaysia, it dropped Ernest Bloch's "Schelomo, a Hebrew Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra" from one program because of the government policy in that Islamic country of discouraging works of Jewish origin.
As Chris Dixon and others point out, discouraging working from home at Yahoo and discouraging workers from working from home at other, more on-track tech companies like Google are two different things.
A recent study conducted in Tanzania also reported the poor job satisfaction in their health system due to lack of job description, poor rewards system, discouraging working environment and weak communications in the staff [ 15].
Any means-tested programme may discourage work.
Inflated benefit payments, for disability for instance, discourage work.
All taxes have the potential to discourage work.
