Celebrating Labor....

Yesterday was a national holiday in America. Labor Day. The first Labor Day event was held in NY in 1882. President Grover Cleveland, in his efforts to reconcile with the labor movement after several deaths at the hands of Federal Marshal's and U.S Military during the Pullman strike, signed into law this national holiday in 1894. The original design of the labor holiday was to celebrate the economic and social contribution of workers.

Much has changed as it relates to labor and the workers of our country and around the world. In the U.S.,  during the 1950's, 35% of the non-farm jobs was in manufacturing . Today, that number is right around 10%. Most of the good manufacturing jobs have gone to Mexico or overseas to China and India. We just don't make things like we use to in our country. Example,today, Ford  announced the building of a 1 billion dollar manufacturing facility in India which will employ  5,000 people .


 Labor unions only represent 6.9% of employees in the private sector, while they represent 32.6% of public sector workers. As I've mentioned before, government does not create wealth, they consume it. Creating jobs or giving out food subsidies does nothing to strengthen our economic system. The creation of wealth is still "making stuff, selling stuff and working with people." Unemployment in the U.S. is above 9% and in the minority communities it's closer to 26%.

What has not changed is:

1)The principle and importance of work.

2) The relationship between those we call "workers" and management.

I suppose there have always been freeloaders, but it appears to me that there are more of them today and the "shame" of not working or taking a handout does not exists like it once did. Today, the "you owe me" attitude" or... "I have a right to have a high standard of living" mentality is prevalent around the world. Take a look at the recent riots in the UK, based on a belief of "getting what is mine" even if I have to steal and destroy public property to get it.

The we/they mentality and the adversarial relationship between "workers" and management continues to manifest it's self in a variety of ways. In spite of the rhetoric, those responsible for "workers" spend less time developing a solid working relationship and opt for spending their time working on cost cutting issues or other non-people concerns. Why? Because it's a lot easier. I know this for a fact, because I work with companies who are trying to turn this mind set around. Most top executives "talk" a good game, but few live it, which just heightens suspicion and dissatisfaction.

Here are some thoughts that every person should consider regardless of position or power.

* Is your job a "blessing or a burden?" If it's a burden, then get out of it as soon as you can.

* Is your work meaningful?

* If your were not on the job, would it matter to the organization you work for?

* Do you add value to your job, or do you JUST do the task?

* Is your work enjoyable?

* Do you feel as if you make a difference?

I have spent my career helping organizations and individuals answer those questions in a positive way. Healthy people make healthy and profitable companies.

 The mantra of "I work to live, I don't live to work" or "take this job and shove it" is not a healthy celebration of "Labor."

How did you score on the above questions?