What is the importance of Labor Day?

We’re wondering, how you will spend your time this Labor Day? We know that for many people Labor Day marks the end of the ‘lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer’. It means getting back into the routines of school and work again. Often people make it the last getaway of the summer to take advantage of the 3-day holiday weekend.

We remember some years ago when we celebrated Labor Days with our neighbors by having potluck dinners. We loved that because we got a chance to try many different dishes. Of course, there was grilling, yummy food and good conversation. We called this our Labor Day/Neighbor Day Picnic. We miss those days but we’re glad to see that now people are starting to get together again.

So why is it called Labor Day when most of us will be resting and relaxing? Here’s a bit of background showing how Labor Day came about. In June of 1894, the American Railroad Union invoked a boycott of all Pullman railroad cars. This crippled railroad traffic in the entire country. Farmers and other businesses didn’t know how they would be able to get goods transported by rail.

Railroad workers were on strike because, along with other problems and a weak economy, their wages were cut. The protest became violent. President Cleveland sent troops to try to quell the rioting. Unfortunately, this resulted in the death of several workers.            

Later that year, as a conciliatory step, President Grover Cleveland showed support for American workers by signing into law that the first Monday in September would be set aside to honor working men and women. Thirty or more states were already celebrating workers, and making it official allowed it to be set aside as a legal holiday.

This year, Labor Day has a different feel for many people. There have been several changes, both negative and positive. On the difficult side, the last couple of years have resulted in businesses closing and workers losing their jobs. Now, businesses are struggling to reopen and to get workers back so that they can serve customers again.

When people lose jobs, sometimes they have a hard time getting back to where they were in the job market. When people want to work but can’t find work, they can feel a loss. This loss isn’t only the financial fear of not being able to pay for housing, food and other necessities. It’s also that a loss of work can contribute to a loss of confidence and the loss of a sense of purpose.

For some people it has meant changing careers and getting additional training. We can’t look at this totally as a negative because for some people it has meant finally doing what they love. Steve Jobs said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you are doing.”

Another positive is that many people are now doing their work from home. This has saved commute time and allowed for more family or personal time. This Labor Day we celebrate workers who help to keep our economy going. We value their resilience in adapting to health restrictions and the changing economy.

We realize we have been so spoiled in the past by workers being readily available. Now, when we call a business and someone actually answers, even after a 15-minute wait, we are elated. This morning our water heater let us know it needs attention. We are thankful there are people who can repair it, even if it will take three days before they come. But at least we have cold water.

All work is important. Maybe your work is not paid work. There’s plenty of volunteer work and homemakers who are working hard and making a positive difference for others. They all deserve celebration too. As Martin Luther King Jr said, “No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

What about you? What will Labor Day be like for you this year? Will you be resting and relaxing? We encourage you to take Labor Day and the holiday weekend to remember what it stands for and to celebrate all the workers who help us in our life. And if you’re a worker, paid or unpaid, we celebrate you and all you contribute. Happy Labor Day!

Chanhassen MN residents, Doug and Lynn Nodland are success coaches and owners of The Balance Center in Excelsior. Contact them at WeCare@SharingLifesLessons.com

© Doug and Lynn Nodland 2021 Articles and videos may be shared in their entirety with attribution.