Labor Day Weekend

It has been a great long weekend. This year is different because I actually took the day off. Labor Day is a firm holiday but usually I am so swamped with September 15 tax return deadlines that I have to work the whole weekend. I think I have worked on Labor Day for the last six years. This year I’m all caught up…or I should say I think I’m all caught up. This morning I did wake up at 5:30 am to talk to Emily. However, instead of scanning the paper I was able to read it and enjoy my cup of coffee. It was wonderful. I did come across this little tidbit from the paper.

Why was  Labor Day invented?
Labor Day came about because workers felt they were spending too many hours and days on the job. In the 1830s, on average, manufacturing workers were putting in 70-hour weeks. Sixty years later, in 1890, hours of work had dropped, although the average manufacturing worker still toiled in a factory 60 hours a week. 

As the U.S. economy expanded beyond farming and basic manufacturing in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it became important for businesses to find consumers interested in buying the products and services being produced in ever greater amounts. Shortening the workweek was one way of turning the working class into the consuming class.

The original holiday was meant to handle a problem of long working hours and no time off. Although the battle over these issues would seem to have been won long ago, this issue is starting to come back with a vengeance, not for manufacturing workers but for highly skilled white-collar workers, many of whom are constantly connected to work.

I found  two things to be of interest. 

1. The shorter workweek turned the working class into a consuming class. There is merit here. When I’m working long hours I do not have to spend money.  Today, I had to tell myself to delete all those emails regarding “Labor Day” sales. I did not need to buy more stuff even though it was tempting.
2. Sometimes I feel so tied to work. If I am not constantly staying in touch with the office that I will get so far behind. This is especially true during a busy tax season. That is what feels strange….I’m not behind for once. It is a great feeling to have the day off.

So I spent the day cleaning my office and catching up on bills and correspondence. I know I could have gone somewhere but it felt wonderful just to be home.

I discovered that Maximus thinks he is the man of the house when I am not home. He is already to spend the day relaxing on my  nightly TV spot.