A Note of Thanks To the People Who Make This Labor Day Possible

We all look forward to Labor Day every year. This is the day when we “officially” end summer and begin ready to greet Fall. Those of us who are parents, look forward to packing our kids off to school, get back to our regular routine without the additional responsibility of keeping the young ones occupied, busy and out of trouble. It is the day and weekend that marks an end of one period and a beginning of another.

Not so this year. This year we’re all working what I have dubbed as “the pandemic schedule” where we work almost all the time because we are unable to do too many other things that give us a break from our work-to-do and honey-do lists. Quite an irony, as Labor Day came about because workers felt they were spending too many hours and days on the job.

In case you’re not aware, in the late 1800's, workers put in 60-70-hours per week, on average. These long working hours caused many union organizers to focus on winning a shorter work day, more days off, such as the Labor Day holiday, and reducing the work week to just six days. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday. Since then, this first Monday is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contribution’s workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

During the pandemic, I have seen work habits change for a lot of folks, yours truly included. People are burning the candle on both ends, seven days a week. For those of you that do not know us, Shapiro+Raj is a strategic insights consultancy that helps solves business and marketing problems. As a service business, our teams work long and hard to serve our clients’ needs actively and passionately.

However, the people I want to recognize today are not just our teams. I want to celebrate workers across a vast array of industries that are essential to keeping the world working, doing their jobs despite great risk—whether they are working on farms, driving buses, taking care of our garbage, or protecting our communities.

Despite the hardships and health risks, these essential frontline workers continue to do their jobs. These hardworking heroes are picking up their trash, providing life-saving medicine, delivering groceries and packages, preparing our food, cleaning our hospitals, caring for those who are most vulnerable, and keeping us safe—often while earning low wages and few benefits.

This Labor Day, I want to recognize these heroes. And I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for all they do to keep us safe, secure, and well.

THANK YOU!


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Shapiro+Raj

S+R is a research and strategy firm that uses social and behavioral sciences to solve the toughest business and marketing challenges. Our next-gen methods dig deep to unlock market-ready insights. Then our brand planners turn these into strategic marketplace actions that create brand evolution and innovation; customer experiences and loyalty; and new platforms for growth.


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