Having spent so many years involved with labor relations, factory workers and, really, workers of all types, I have a few thoughts to share on Labor Day. Let’s go!
First, there is a great summary of the history of Labor Day on the Department of Labor website. You history buffs should have a look. I particularly enjoyed the Maguire and McGuire claims of being the originator of the idea, one of the Carpenter’s Union, the other of the Machinists. Check it out here:
When you think of the era when Labor Day was created, images of the industrialization of America come to mind, with many Americans making the switch from farming to factory work. They literally built the foundations of the country, and it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine. Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle is one of the seminal books revealing the true horrors of some industries at the time. So, on this Labor Day, here’s a hat tip to my sometime adversaries at the bargaining table in my earlier career: unions arose for good reason and to this day serve as a check and balance to clueless ‘management’ and poor leadership.
How far have we come? One of the most interesting current debates is all about how much some of us should actually come to work physically. Remote? Hybrid? 4 day weeks? Yes – those doing office work have an amazing landscape to navigate here in the still early 21st century. We do not know the long term effects of any of these new trends, but we are diving in. Everyone from top executives to department heads to managers and individual contributors needs to keep in mind that the actual correlation between mental health and social isolation is a negative one. Was it Barbara Streisand that sang ‘people who need people are the loveliest people’ or something like that? She probably had that right.
I am biased. In my tenure my favorite employees were the so called ‘front line’ employees or as we called them in the pandemic, the ‘essential’ workers. That’s an ironic moniker in that blue collar workers don’t get the respect, esteem and gratitude they deserve in my humble opinion. If you are among the many who have to show up to get your job done, you have my everlasting respect and gratitude. Restaurant and hotel/hospitality workers, utility workers, technicians, truck drivers, health care and hospital workers, soldiers, airman, sailors, marines, warehouse and factory workers: We love you, man! You’d never know it by reading the business press, but these types of workers make up the majority of jobs in the US. Denizens of Linkedin and readers of any online business publication and deluged by articles and opinions about the best mix of office/remote work. I have been very entertained by watching the impassioned opinions and comments on both sides of that issue (now that I am retired from corporate life its no longer my problem!). For those that show up and actually run the country physically, these notions are irrelevant. Plumbing that works, electricity that powers us, cars that transport us, airplanes that fly us, first responders that save us, military members that defend us – all of these are far more important than that important email we need to get out today.
Dignity and meaning are still relevant for us today, maybe even more so than during the industrial age, Back then it was ‘work or die’. Today things are a bit different, with soft landings far more available if gigs don’t work out. The need for work, for goals, for achievements, to move forward, to advance (a little or allot) all add up to dignity and good mental health. Work is good. It must be part of a balanced life. Even more, and maybe the Gen Z’s are on top of this more than their predecessors, meaningful work is even better.
I would expand on the need for meaningful work with this advice: since we all need income, seek meaning in your free time as well as work time; if your current job is not giving you ‘we are changing the world and saving the whales’ vibes, you still have options. There are many ways to find meaning, so go ahead and file that meaningless report for the boss and find a non-profit that is doing work you admire and volunteer some time. They need you and will be so happy to see you. And you will come away energized and happy after engaging.
Speaking of non-profits they deserve a shout out on Labor Day as well: those serving those among us most in need usually do so for far less pay than most, but they are rewarded handsomely in the ‘meaning and purpose’ realm. I think they understand some things many of us don’t. Teachers/educators, animal rescuers, poverty alleviators, homelessness interveners, mental health group home counselors, disability/independent living workers, clergy, domestic abuse counselors, foster parents and so many countless others involved with service to others deserve our thanks and admiration on this Labor Day.
Final thought: today as you look at that beer in your hand, bag of chips, anything on the grill or many other food items that come your way today, I ask you to consider the food industry workers that got it to you. They worked long hours and were proud to do it, to make sure you had a good time today. Send them good thoughts or a prayer for their safety.
Happy Labor Day!
