Celebrating construction workers this Labor Day in America and Canada

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

As you prepare for the Labor Day long weekend pause to reflect on the meaning of this holiday. The origins of Labor Day are often overshadowed by the sales and discounts offered by many retailers this weekend, by the start of a new sports season, a new school year, and the prospect of the end of summer and a final opportunity for a summer family picnic. This year is different with Covid-19 damaging the health and economies of vast swathes of the community, raising many new concerns, including the safety of children returning to school and the many uncertainties for the future. Many of your workers will have been impacted by the virus, as I’m sure most companies have been impacted by the economic and human cost.
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Labor Day is meant as a time to commemorate the contribution of workers, and we should pause to consider their contribution to building the country, and importantly their vital contribution to continue building the country.

Image by Mustafa shehadeh from Pixabay

Where would our construction projects be without the hard work of construction workers, who often work long hours in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions. A successful construction company is built on the team effort and hard work of both management and workers. The success of our construction projects depends on our craftspeople and workers.

Take this opportunity to say thank you to your construction team. Maybe consider a small celebration on your construction project to mark the holiday and thank your crew.

I’m sure the summer has been rushed trying to get construction projects finished in between the pandemic. So now may be a good time to pause and step back and review your construction crew. Is it time to reward some with a promotion or small pay increase? How about seeing who would benefit from extra training? Who has put in the extra effort? Who has helped get your projects over the line? Who should be rewarded, who needs help, and who needs to improve? Providing constructive feedback to your construction team and workers will pay dividends. If you’ve been office bound for the last few months now is a good time to get out onto the construction project site and engage with your construction crews.

Your crew will appreciate a thank you for their efforts. They will be appreciative of rewards for their efforts. They’ll return refreshed from their long weekend and invigorated by your thanks, so that your construction project can make the most of the good autumn weather. Before you know it Thanksgiving and winter will arrive.

Regrettably some construction projects may be behind schedule and there’s the temptation to make construction crews work through the holidays to make up the lost time. Don’t be the grinch that stole Labor Day from your construction team, that took away the opportunity for your crew to rest and spend time with their family.

Of course equally, don’t steal Labor Day from your family. Don’t take work home. Your family wants to spend time with you before their school or college year ramps up into a flurry of sport, study and socialising. Make time for your family and enjoy the weekend wherever you are and whatever you do. Don’t let work spoil the holiday. Everyone needs a break from work. You’ll be more refreshed to face the rest of 2020 if you take time off this weekend.

Let’s pause and consider the reason we celebrate Labor Day. It’s a celebration of everyone who worked hard to build the country. It’s a celebration of all who work hard everyday to make our construction projects successful. Say thanks to them. Happy Labor Day.
How will you celebrate Labor Day with your team?
What are your plans for the Labor Day weekend?

​This article was first published on the ClockShark website.
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