B2B Monday Myth: It’s Okay to Work a Little on Labor Day

by MGB2B

 

The Myth: It’s Okay to Work a Little on Labor Day

The Truth: Labor Day’s True Meaning Might Change Your Mind

It’s okay to research a few prospects on Labor Day, right? Maybe check up on the competition in between beers and burgers? Well sure, you’re a grown-up – you can do whatever you like on Labor Day.

But when you learn about the history of the holiday, you may give it a second thought. When Labor Day was established back in 1894, working conditions were far worse than almost anything you could imagine today. 12-hour days and 7-day weeks were the norm, small children were put to work in factories, and many workplaces were unsafe and unsanitary, putting workers in danger on a daily basis.

As labor unions became more prominent, they held rallies and strikes to protest these awful conditions. The events often ended in violence, with both workers and policemen losing their lives in the fray. After things got out of hand following an organized boycott of Pullman railway cars, and 12 people were killed in the resulting riots, Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday, memorializing those who gave their lives in the name of workers’ rights and honoring those who toiled day in and day out in order to make an honest living. It was a decision that paved the way for many improvements to the work experience in the coming  years.

The best way to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives is to stop and reflect on the day that was created to relieve the plight of the American worker. So put down your laptop and raise your glass. Your competitors and prospects? They’ll still be there waiting for you on Tuesday morning.

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