Justin G. Roy

So I was sitting here today wondering about Labor Day and what it means.  Luckily, we have wikipedia to tell us.  Here is the definition:

….a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create “a day off for the working citizens”…..Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.[1] All fifty states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

Ok, am I the only one here who thinks this is a bit odd?  At the risk of sounding like a hard-ass, why do we need another day off?  I do understand that over 100 years ago, work schedules were different, and many jobs were 7 days a week and possibly more than 37.5 hours.  However, we are not all blacksmiths and farmers now.

A good friend of mine brought up the fact that Labor Day was the official end of summer and we needed to celebrate.  I asked, celebrate what?  The fact that the days where the windchill is -15 and by the time I walk the 1.25 miles to work I look like a snowman?  Granted I will celebrate the end of humidity.  Wow, I sound like a real weather-cynic. 

Back to the subject on hand.  Why can’t Labor Day be during the week.  More of an unexpected day off, rather than a long weekend?  I take that back, if it was on a Wednesday, you would probably lose more in production than just keeping it on Monday.

So where does this bring us?  Good question.  I guess it brings us to realize I am in the office right now typing about Labor Day – AND getting work done – while most are going to read this post tomorrow.