Labour Day, Then and Now

As the Eight-Hour Day Movement marchers say: ‘Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what you will!’

Can you imagine working for 16 hours without fair compensation? I can´t. However, that was the reality in the 19^th century in both the United States and Europe. Workers were forced to work between 12 and 16 hours, for six or seven days per week, on a regular basis. What is even more shocking is that there was no exception for kids, who had to work in mills or factories.

Despite the fact that Labour Day has its roots in the United States, more than 80 countries around the world currently observe it on 1 May. However, Americans observe the day on the first Monday in September. The same is true in Canada and Japan.

What is the origin of Labour Day?

Labour Day started 136 years ago when 300,000 workers took to Chicago´s streets to strike for an eight-hour workday. Even though American industry was rapidly expanding, the society was not happy. The fight for better working conditions would begin in the mid-19th century.

The first hours of strike on 1 May happened peacefully, without any disputes. However, no one expected it would result in a major massacre, now known as the Haymarket Affair, which involved police and labour protesters. This massacre is one of those events that had a powerful impact on both American and European history. We can even say it was an entry point for subsequent labour movements. It was crucial then to fight for workers’ rights, even though an eight-hour work day was originally made to protect workers who worked manually and held jobs brought about by innovations that defined the industrial revolution.

Today, the combination of technology and globalisation has transformed society, with an eight-hour workday also being followed by non-manual workers. This arguably enables many workers to achieve work-life balance, especially in places where labour laws have evolved in favour of workers and the link between healthy living and work life is more pronounced.

Why work-life balance matters?

Nowadays, there is focus on work-life balance more than ever before. Organisations and companies focus more on employee satisfaction, treating employees with respect and care, and offering a healthy and intelligent workplace. Employees today tend to perform better if they have enough time to share between spending time with their family and doing things that bring them happiness (have a balanced life)—and this leads to improved engagement at work. We can, therefore, highlight that work-life balance leads to:

• Improved performance – It is understandable that being in good psychological and physical condition has a great impact on your performance at work. This way you are able to think clearly, be more creative and stay on top of things.
• Higher employee engagement – Is there anything better than having loyal employees? A study by the Temkin Group shows that ‘engaged staff are 2.5 times more likely to stay at work late if something needs to be done after the normal workday ends.’¹ It is also likely to reflect in the quality of remote team engagement that a company might experience.
• Lowered rate/risk of health issues – Having the boundaries between work and your personal life significantly reduces the potential to develop health issues. This is because many physical diseases are often linked to the condition of our mental health, which should not be taken for granted or underestimated.
• Greater mindfulness – In aiming to strike a good life balance, you are likely to become more mindful. For example, when employees focus on important issues during a certain time, they are able to use the time effectively. This brings about better cooperation between colleagues and higher profit.

Work-life balance at Medline

From my point of view, the above are also core values at Medline. We try to handle stress in our daily lives. We live with it, and—as we must admit—it is a normal part of our life. However, the prevention of burnout is crucial.

Therefore, as a Medline employee, I appreciate the flexible work hours. Employees are able to adjust when they start/finish work (this differs from position to position). We also have the right to take days off when needed. Moreover, using the flexible schedule enables employees to achieve their daily tasks easily, which leads to better job satisfaction. In addition, the company embraces remote team engagement. Remote work can increase employee engagement, if approached in a way that encourages togetherness/collaboration during the mix of time spent working at home and in the office. These are some of the things I really appreciate about Medline, as they allow me to have a better work-life balance.

To find out more about work-life balance, check out this article - How to Achieve Good Work-Life Balance.

References:
1. Inspira-Journal of Commerce, Economics & Computer Science (JCECS) 7 ISSN : 2395-7069, Impact Factor: 5.660, Volume 07, No. 03, July-Sept., 2021, pp. 07-15