What Does Labor Day Mean to Freelancers?
September 3, 2007 by Lillie
Labor Day was first observed in 1882 by the Central Labor Union of New York to create a holiday for workers and to celebrate trade unions. Cities and states began to recognize the day, and, in 1892, the US Congress designated the first Monday in September for the annual observance of Labor Day. The recognition of Labor Day demonstrates the power of organized labor, especially a hundred years ago. Parades and picnics are traditional Labor Day events.
Jim Blasingame, the Small Business Advocate, points out in his newsletter every year that there is no Small Business Day, even though “small businesses account for about 75% of new jobs created in the country,” according to the Small Business Administration. About half of all employees work for small businesses.
The government’s report on small business for 2005 (released in December 2006) states:
…of the nearly 26 million firms in the United States, most are very small—97.5 percent of employer and nonemployer firms have fewer than 20 employees. Yet cumulatively, these firms account for half of our nonfarm real gross domestic product, and they have generated 60 to 80 percent of the net new jobs over the past decade.
But what about those of us who are self-employed? The same report indicates:
The estimated number of nonemployer firms also reached a new high, at 19.86 million.
That means that two-thirds of small businesses have no employees. Freelancers fall into this category. Writers and designers often think of themselves as creative rather than entrepreneurial. However, to be successful, we have to be both.
My guess is that many of us will be working at least part of this holiday weekend. I hadn’t intended to work, but I have a client – a self-employed consultant – who has a big project starting next week, and she needs my help in preparing the training materials for her workshops. So she’ll be working … and I’ll be working while workers employed by small and large businesses will have a day off.
However, even if we’re not honored with a national holiday, and though I’ll be working at least part of the time on the holiday, I am delighted that I am a freelancer and not an employee. Maybe I work a lot harder and longer than I would if I reported to an 8-5 job, but I do it by choice. I have the freedom to tell my client I’m not available if I want, or I can do the work for her between midnight and 5 AM if I prefer. And if I choose to take off later in the week or next week, I can.
I give thanks every day that I do what I love and have the freedom to choose when and how it – even who I work with. There may not be a national holiday to celebrate self-employment, but, to me, every day is a day to celebrate.
Whether you’re a part of organized labor, an employee who isn’t a union member, an employer, or a self-employed freelancer, have a blessed, happy, and safe Labor Day.
[tags]Labor Day, self-employment, small business, holiday[/tags]
Hi Lillie,
A great informative and timely post. Thanks for sharing it.
I am grateful to you too for your good wishes to me.
God bless.
Surjit,
I appreciate the visit and the comment.
I’m self employed as well & I never know what to do with holidays. In my previous jobs, I counted the day until holidays, now I just want to keep working lol
Sarakastic,
Not only do most of us freelancers love what we do and look forward to every day, but we also don’t get paid holidays!
I’m self employed too. I just want to quickly complete my job no matter what public holiday (labor day) as I am responsible to submit my work to my customer. Holiday for the entire day really bored to me.
Louiss,
People who are self-employed have to be committed to their work to succeed. And that level of commitment comes most easily when you really love what you do.
yeah you’re right. self-employed they need to work hard to finish their task
Louiss,
A lot of people don’t have the self-discipline and motivation to succeed in business – whether it is a one-person freelance business or a small business with dozens of employees. When I owned a small interior landscape company, some of my employees thought I made lots of money and had an easy job. They didn’t realize I worked twice as many hours as they did and that when cash was short, they got paid, and I didn’t.
Lillie, although Labor Day has passed by I can say that the holiday means something to me. When I explained the day to my sons I mentioned how it is day to honor people who work.
Sure, there is much more to the day including the rise of employee rights and unions, but today’s technology means that so many of us can now work for ourselves which was an impossibility less than one generation ago.
Matt,
We are blessed to be able to work for ourselves, and everyone who works should be honored.
We all need more recognition for our contribution to the economy. Sometimes feels like we are completely forgotten. Interesting post!
Isn’t a freelancer supposed to work at will every day of his life? Every day is a labour day for freelancers!
I usually work the holidays, because there are so many people out… Then I take a day off, a day or two later… So I get to enjoy time off without a gazillion people around!
Miles,
That’s a good idea if you don’t plan to celebrate with family and friends who don’t have the flexibility of a freelance schedule.
Very True, Lillie.
Just a good reason to let them know what a great life freelancing is.
[...] entrepreneurs, corporate employees, retail workers, small business owners and employees, and even freelancers—to enjoy a day of relaxation and [...]
Thanks for visiting and commenting, Peter K.
Yes, freelancers work at will … but freelancers and small businesses don’t get a day of recogniztion as labor does. That’s fine – I’d still much rather be a freelancer than work for someone else.