Labor Day has always been about honoring the people who do the work. The millions of men and women who show up every day in plants, on job sites, behind desks, in hospitals, schools, fields, and warehouses, and keep companies, communities, and the entire economy moving forward.
This year, as we pause to recognize the contributions of America’s workforce, we also need to confront an uncomfortable truth: our workforce has consistently risen to meet extraordinary challenges, but I’m not sure the employers have risen with them.
A Workforce That Has Done Its Part
Think about what employees have endured and delivered over the past several years:
- Navigating the uncertainty of a global pandemic
- Adapting seemingly overnight to new technologies and new ways of working
- Meeting customer expectations despite supply chain breakdowns and labor shortages
- Showing resilience through constant disruption and still finding ways to innovate and grow
The workforce has proven its strength, adaptability, and resilience again and again. I believe they have done their part.
Employers Must Rise to Meet Them
If the workforce has carried so much on their shoulders, what responsibility do employers carry? The answer is to make the workplace work better. That means more than simply providing a paycheck. It requires creating environments where employees are:
- Supported with managers who coach, not just supervise
- Valued with recognition that their voices and contributions matter
- Developed with opportunities to grow careers, not just complete tasks
- Respected workplaces that honor both professional performance and personal well-being
A Challenge for Leaders
Labor Day should not only be a day of gratitude but also a call to action. If employees can show resilience, grit, and commitment, then leaders must show courage, vision, and accountability.
That means asking hard questions:
- Are we listening to our employees, or just surveying them?
- Are we investing in managers to make leadership a role employees aspire to, not avoid?
- Are we treating retention and engagement as a core business strategy, or leaving it to chance?
Why We Do This Work
At Work Institute, we believe the workplace should work better. Our mission is to help organizations listen to their people, act on what they hear, and create environments where employees thrive. We do this because when people thrive, organizations thrive.
This Labor Day, let’s honor our workforce not just with words, but with action.