Labor Day

http://www.dol.gov/laborday/history.htm

Tomorrow the US celebrates Labor Day. Most have the day off from work, creating a three day weekend. It's kind of viewed as the end of summer here. Back in the day school started the day after Labor Day. Now, in my state, school starts some time in August. Traditionally folks rest and have a picnic.

I'm wondering if other countries have a similar day. Please tell us if your country has something similar.

canada has the same! and school usually starts the day after labour day.

Is your Labour Day (I saw the difference in spelling) tomorrow? What are your traditions?

The UK has 8 public holidays a year called bank holidays. Two at christmas, one at new year, two at easter, two in May and one in August. The one at the beginning of May is known as Mayday and is an old pagan celebration of the beginning of summer.

The US must have the same amount of public holidays? what are all yours for? x

Silver Tree, we have National or Federal holidays. They usually celebrate/honor a person or patriotic event. I can't remember all of them, some are Colombus Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day Veteran's Day, Memorial Day.

Thank you for replying.

Oh wow! You probably get more holiday than us

I feel a little jealous that your holidays are in honour of someone or an event, I think I would prefer that. x

Apparently, Labour Day originated in Canada:

Fun Facts - The Weather Network

I always assumed it was the same as your Labor Day. Wikipedia gives more information:

Labour Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Depending on how leftie you are, it's more associated with the actual labour or trade union movement. Most people just think of it as another long weekend, however. This little survey kind of confirms that:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/pol...ate-labour-day

I understand that you get more time for vacations and better maternity leave than we do. Depending on what country you are from.

We get 4 weeks paid holiday a year, and I think it's 6 months maternity?? Not at full pay (maybe 3 months full/3 months half pay) but I don't know exactly.

I think a lot of things even out between our countries though. It is fun to find out though

How much is your healthcare insurance a year? x

In America people are lucky to get two weeks of unpaid vacation time. With employers hiring more part time to avoid giving benefits and more people working two jobs, a lot of people don't even get vacation.

Maternity leave is up to the employee but it is unpaid also. They passed a law that there has to be a certain amount of time off in which a person may not be fired, but with the economy many go back to work as soon as possible.

Healthcare depends on so many factors, like where you live, your income, and if you get benefits from an employer, whether or not you are eligible for extra help from the government that it's hard to say what the average cost is.

Oh gosh! But you seem to get a lot more public holidays than us? The holiday pay we got from European law actually and is quite a new thing. Even if you are part-time you are entitled (just on a pro rata basis) Sick pay is not compulsory though. If you have a doctors note then after 4 days off you can claim statutory sick pay from the government but it is only £87 a week ($140)

Our employment laws are quite strict and favour the employee so it is quite hard just to sack someone and tribunal services are provided free if there is an 'unfair dismissal'

Do you find that a lot of employers (that you know and in your experience) are good to their staff and pay well etc? or do you think that the government should make more laws to protect/benefit employees? x

-Excerpt from a Labor Day 2014 weekend conversation @ the American Legion.