by Ronnie Dauber

Created on: September 19, 2008

Labour Day weekend is a special celebration time for employees all across the world when they commemorate the freedoms they were given as employees. It's the day that we look back in history and see where we came from and what we have. There are lots of things that we could do on that weekend but there are some things that we should not do during the Labour Day weekend.

The one thing that many of us do, whether by choice or by force, is to work at our jobs on Labour Day weekend. It is so ironic that the whole point of the holiday, which is to celebrate the rights and freedoms gained for employees, is totally overlooked because the employees are stuck at their jobs.

This is one of those meaningful holidays where everyone involved should be free with the opportunity to show their appreciation. Working at the job and totally ignoring the whole reason of the day is like a slap in the face to the ones who fought so hard to help get us the freedoms that we enjoy.

It's true that some business cannot afford a down time during the weekend, and that the costs of such a venture could be devastating to the business. In retrospect of considerations, it's understood why they have to remain operational.

However, the employees that work that day should do so out of choice and not because of a schedule. And they should be surrounded with reminders of what the day is.

It would be unreasonable to hang banners up inside a steel mill near the ovens, but there could be reminders in the cafeteria or luncheon rooms where they eat, or by their lockers.

And then the job should entail only the needs of the day. There should be a special celebration luncheon provided by the company for those workers so they can appreciate the day and what it means to be free, if even just a little bit.

Stores should not be allowed to open on Labour Day. There should be an absolute law with no exceptions, and they should not be allowed to open just because they can afford the fine. The fact that they open at all shows a total disregard for the purpose of the day.

Many smaller stores take advantage of the fact that they are one of the few businesses open and that that factor alone will attract business. Others look at it as the last opportunity to get school supplies for the kids who are returning back to school the next day.

But the only stores that should be allowed to be open are drug stores for medical help only. Then it becomes a community service to the people and not a gainful profit to the disrespectful.

And as consumers, we should not choose to shop on Labour Day weekend, because that defies the point of the day. We should refuse to shop and celebrate with what we have instead.

And what we should never do is say we don't care about the day. When a person gets to that point, they need to pull out a history book and learn what was given to them. Then they need to study it until they are able to understand the freedom we have because of the battles our ancestors fought for us, which is why we celebrate.

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