Why We Celebrate Labor Day – It’s Not Just For The Picnics

It is fitting that Workers’ Comp Insider would remind us to put a tribute to labor ahead of hamburgers on Labor Day Weekend.

Remembering the “labor” in Labor Day

In all the long weekend holiday plans and back-to-school activities, the true meaning and the origin of Labor Day can be lost in the shuffle. The holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September “… is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” You can read more about the struggles and history that led to the first Labor Day at the Department of Labor site.

What’s the pulse of the American worker today as we head into Labor Day? The New York Times reports that three polls find workers sensing deep pessimism. Most survey respondents indicated that wages are not keeping up with inflation and that conditions are worse than they were a generation ago.

With jobs being offshored, outsourced, and downsized, and with technology changing the very nature of how and where we work, it is an unsettling time for many.

To commemorate Labor Day in the true spirit in which it was meant, we’ve gathered some links to a variety of sites that pay tribute to the American worker. [To access the links go to the full post].

Thank you, Julie Ferguson, for providing us with both a reminder and easy resources on Labor Day.