Yes, Virginia, There is a Real Labor Day

When did Labor Day Become Shopping Day?

In 2011, over 100 years after the first nationally observed Labor Day, does it feel like we’ve had 100 years of progress?   For comparison, think of 100 years in medicine, aviation, or technology.  We have not come a long way, baby.  

“Labor Day 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.”

So proclaims the DOL website.  Really?   Corporate America is sending a different message.  Labor Day is now a day of “blow out sales” from your local car dealer to the mattress store and everywhere in between.   It’s just an “end of summer day off.”   In 2011 there are not a lot of “social and economic achievements” for an average employee - especially a non-union employee - to celebrate.  It is another day of corporate greed and record profits not shared with “labor.”  Labor has become a dirty word in the United States.

On Labor Day, many workers will not receive the day off and they will not receive holiday pay.  They will work for minimum wage, slinging burgers, pouring drinks, selling furniture, mopping up on aisle 9 and doing a myriad of other jobs.  They must work because people who have a “day off” want to shop, go out, and “have fun.”   In general, businesses are “closed” on Christmas – a religious holiday Corporate America allows us to “have off”…but not Labor Day.   Closing a business on Labor Day results in lost revenue.  Oh, the horror.

I am grateful for the cops, firefighters, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other essential personnel who will work on Labor Day.  I hope they are well compensated for it.  Not everyone working Labor Day will be.

The server working three part-time jobs will not have the day off; instead she will wait on some middle management jackass and his ill-mannered family.  She will probably get a crappy tip because Mr. Manager has never worked in the service industry.  He tells his offspring that she should be “happy” to have a job at all, because "times are tough."  They are dining out on Labor Day because Mr. Manager just got a bonus!  Mr. Manager’s company beat “The Street’s” estimate due in part to a 10% “reduction in force” and “outsourcing” its call center.  Happy Labor Day.

Employees, Laborers, Workers – all of us – have lost ground.   Here are some items to ponder.  While they do not apply to every state or every company, they are common.

At-Will Employment:  Non-union employees can be fired for any reason or no reason at all.  They do not need to give notice.   You, on the other hand better give at least two weeks before you resign or you will get a BAD reference.  

PTO:  Paid time off that so graciously allows employees to choose whether they will be sick or they will go on vacation.  Wonder why colds and flu get passed around the office?  You and your co-workers don’t have enough “time off” to stay home because you went on vacation on your “time off.”  HR says “you should have thought about that” because in Corporate America’s HR-land employees should “plan for” becoming ill and not “foolishly” use their time off for a …vacation. 

“Holidays” are paid the same as any other day.  Companies say they don’t want to show “favoritism” to one religion or ethnic group.  Especially true for 24/7 companies.  Not sure how Labor Day or 4^th of July are “religious.”  They simply don’t want to pay workers any more than they “have to.” 

Money is tight!  No Overtime!   Companies “allow” workers to “come in late or leave early” certain days to ensure they don’t work more than 40 hours.    It is irrelevant how the changes impact the employee – it is “business demand” or at the convenience of the boss.  It’s ok with the boss that you have to sit and wait for 45 minutes for a train or bus or carpool, as long as he doesn’t have to pay you. 

Time off must be used concurrently with FMLA.  If you had 10 days of PTO in your “bank” it must be used at the same time as your FMLA leave.   If you needed surgery, you are out of luck for any follow up or therapy post-surgery - you have no time off left.  If you took FMLA to care for a seriously ill family member, you may not have a vacation.  They do not care about “why” they simply know you can only be away from “the company” for so long before they “separate” you from their employment.  Again, your choice is illness or vacation.  We need vacation time.  Why has it become a dirty word? 

Vacations must be pre-approved.   It’s your time, you earned it; but because it is the end of the quarter, or because Mildred wanted that week off, or because your boss didn’t bother to look at the form you submitted a ridiculously long time ago, you’re out of luck.   Your company is so “right sized” that there is no one to do your job, so you can’t take off more than a day here or there – they “need” you!  Companies now offer to pay their employees to “cash out” their vacation time.  They know you need money and they can’t run their business without you worker bees, so never mind the time off and get back to work. 

We Pay for Performance Really? When wages are frozen, or the “pool of money” for raises is tiny, or when the criteria is so subjective that it’s a game of ass-kissin’ this is not paying for performance.  You are now doing the job of 3 people which by definition is "good performance" but because the Executive Team received bonuses and raises there is no money left for you. 

Employees are denied breaks and lunches.  When they “remind” an employer of the laws, they are branded as trouble makers.   Workers have their pay illegally docked and if they want to keep their jobs, they stay quiet.   Corporate America is willing to take the risk of a fine or lawsuit because they know you are too afraid to file a complaint and often have no idea how to do so. 

Corporate America cheers the decline of unions and many work very hard and spend a great deal of money “preventing” unions from entering their workplace.  I can’t image why – employees are treated so well. 

This Labor Day participate in real Labor Day celebrations - parades, speeches, picnics.  Stay out of the stores and restaurants.  Stay out of the bar or the movie theater.  Plan another day for the amusement park.   It may be one small way to send a message to Corporate America.  Hit them where it hurts - on their bottom line.  If being "open" is no longer "profitable" perhaps they will close and allow their workers to enjoy their day - Labor Day.