Carol H Tucker Passionate about knowledge management and organizational development, expert in loan servicing, virtual world denizen and community facilitator, and a DISNEY fan
Contact Me Subscribe to this blog
beladona Memorial Be warned:in this very rich environment where you can immerse yourself so completely, your emotions will become engaged -- and not everyone is cognizant of that. Among the many excellent features of SL, there is no auto-return on hearts, so be wary of where your's wanders...
In the United States, it is the official end to summer, pools close and boardwalk businesses shutter after this first Monday in September. Back in the day, it signaled that school was starting -- these days most public schools and universities have already begun classes, but the Thursday after Labor Day used to be the first day of school. And according to the fashion police, it is time to put away the white clothing -- no more white shoes, handbags, pants, skirts, dresses, etc. And no more straw either, no straw bags or hats.
It was designed to be a holiday to celebrate the worker, the person who made the wheels of industry turn. The Department of Labor defines it as: "a creation of the labor movement and 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." It is a celebration of the triumph of unions, those organizations that stood against the robber barons and wrested concessions that we take for granted today:
safety in the workplace
40 hour work week and weekends off
overtime and holiday pay
paid sick leave
paid vacations
a sustainable minimum wage
pensions
Despite the yowling of pain and complaints that these things were the end of businesses, who couldn't possibly afford these luxuries, organizations throve and grew, people got rich and then richer. And you know what? Unions may have become corrupt and greedy, but without themnot a single one of those concessions would've been made. And the robber barons of today are doing their best to implement changes that will reverse all of these benefits in the name of "prosperity", ignoring the fact that their policies are decimating what was a strong, robust middle class. Trickle down economics, the increase in contract employment without any benefits, treating the service industry workers as little more than serfs, claims that "they" are just lazy and that is why "they" are broke, the elimination of pensions, forced retirement.... The list goes on and on as the worker is no longer considered an asset, but a cost to be managed and curtailed in the name of the bottom line.
So while you are enjoying this day off, take a minute to think about all those folks who are still working today, not because they want time-and-a-half overtime pay, but because they have to in order to keep their jobs. While you plan for a cook-out or a parade, take a minute to look, really LOOK at the candidates who are running for office and decide if they are really there to make things better for you or whether they are in it for a rich fat-cat payoff. And remember those steelworkers, miners and seamstresses who went on strike when it wasn't safe to do so, and thank them.... We could use some of their fire and dedication today, neh?
CEOExpress
/Contingent-Worker-Morale-and-Your-Bottom-line.jpeg)
