Since we’re celebrating Labor Day here in the US, here are some intriguing and fun facts you may not know about the holiday and the workforce.
Enjoy!
– The word ‘work’ means ‘werg’ meaning ‘to do’
– The word ’employ’ is Latin, meaning to ‘enfold, involve, associate’
– The word ‘boss’ is Dutch, meaning ‘a master’
– The first U.S. Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City, planned by the Central Labor Union.
– Oregon was the first to declare Labor Day an official holiday in 1887.
– Labor Day is considered the ‘unofficial NFL season kickoff.’ 99.44 percent of the time, the NFL plays its first official season game the Thursday after Labor Day.
– Monday is the most common day workers call in sick. Friday is the least likely sick day.
– If you work 40 hours a week up until 65 years, you will work just over 90,000 hours in your lifetime.
– The industrial Revolution allowed people to work longer and year-round. Work was no longer dictated by seasons and natural lighting.
– Italy enjoys the best work-life balance, according to OECD, with only 3% of employees working more than 50 hours per week.
– In France the average work week is 35 hours, The Netherlands has the shortest work week in the world at 29 hours per week.
– In Japan the average working week is 60-70 hours. Many Japanese drop dead at work as a result. This is known as ‘Karoshi’. Every year, over 10,000 Japanese suffer from ‘Karoshi’
– 80% percent of jobs are gained through networking and not a resume!
– The average office worker spends 50 minutes a day looking for lost files and other items.
– Once an item is filed, there is a 98% chance it will never see the light of day again.
– Multitasking at work can drop a person’s IQ by ten points.
– Employees who have more control over the layout and design of their workspace are healthier and happier in the office.
From the historical highlights to the quirky details about office life, these tidbits remind us of how far we’ve come and how much there is still to discover.
Celebrate the hard work and achievements of everyone who has contributed to shaping our workforce.
Labor Day is a great time to think about how we can keep improving our work environments and strive for better work-life balance.
Here’s to honoring the spirit of labor and looking forward to a future where job satisfaction and well-being are top priorities.
Happy Labor Day!
If inspired, please share.
Related Articles:
The Legacy of Juneteenth: Understanding Its History and Importance
Memorial Day: Historic Origins of Why We Honor Our Veterans
