Labor Day is often considered the unofficial end of summer, although the fall solstice technically occurs later in the month. As firm believers in hard work and the spirit of the American dream, we wanted to share a little bit about the roots of this day.
Here are 5 things you may or may not know about Labor Day:
#1: Labor Day was first celebrated in 1882 in New York, when the unions of New York City decided to have a parade to show support for unions & worker
protections – and 20,000 people showed up! It became a Federal Holiday in 1894.
#2: The biggest union today is the National Education Association which has about 3 million members.
#3: The Labor Department was not created until 20 years after Labor Day, and was the FIRST cabinet agency led by a woman, Frances Perkins. She championed clearly defined work hours and a minimum wage which became law with the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938.
#4: Despite a ‘sour’ public mood, recent findings reveal that 82% of workers are satisfied with the work they do, 78% are satisfied with their company and 75% of workers are more than content with their commutes!
#5: Happiness at work is linked to improved productivity (by at least 12%!), consistent outperforming of competitors, better employee loyalty and improved worker well-being.
The bottom line: Labor Day is about so much more than the end of white pants and the resurgence of pumpkin everything in supermarkets. We consider this day of vital importance to not only celebrate what the hard work of Americans has achieved, but to reflect on your own purpose.
Work and joy should not be on two opposite ends of the spectrum, but rather complementary forces that define you in the best ways possible!
Resources Used: National Constitution Center, Department of Labor, Forbes, Fast Company
Have a great week,
Bobbi
Bobbi & Team
Bobbi Decker
DRE#00607999
Broker Associate, Bobbi Decker & Associates
650.346.5352 cell
650.577.3127 efax
www.bobbidecker.com
NAR Instructor….“Designations Create Distinctions”
CIPS, SRS, ABR, CRS, SRES, GRI, CLHMS, REI, AHWD, RSPS, MSLG
Bobbi Decker & Associates fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. For more information, please visit: http://portal.hud.gov/