Labor Day is about the laborers – those whose work keeps us fed, clothed, protected, entertained, moved, housed, healthy.
It’s about taking a whole day to consider who they are, what they do, and how they are treated.
That includes us – we (you and me) are pretty much white collar middle- and upper-middle class folks; well-educated, fortunately-born, and generally well off. Sure, we are “workers”, and as such we need the time off – away from work email and texts. So put that “I’ll be back to you on Tuesday” message on the phone and email when you leave work today, and don’t think about it until Tuesday morning.
I’d suggest that this weekend is also a great time to consider those who are, indeed, working while we are holiday-ing – and those who make stuff we use and provide services we take for granted.
Nurses (disclosure, our daughter is an ER nurse and will be working most of the weekend), waiters, cooks, police (even those enforcing traffic laws), marina and park staff, lifeguards and hotel staff all deserve our thanks and our appreciation. As do the maintenance workers, groundskeepers, mechanics, drivers, laborers, skilled workers and construction workers that make life here pretty pleasant compared to a lot of the world.
As my lovely bride says, “we are all in this together.”
Share the love.
We would do well to remember this throughout the year as we manage their work comp claims. Our claimants are people and while we tend to view them as statistics, or outcomes, they’re people we need to continue to have the good lives we have.
Let’s don’t forget to remember our Nation’s Military while remembering all the other worker bees.
Jennifer, thanks for the comment. Military has two other days as holidays. Labor Day is intended to honor civilian workers.