Welcome to Labour Day, the holiday that cannot even agree with itself.
If you have ever tried scheduling a meeting across states in Australia, you know public holidays are a moving target. Someone is working, someone is at the beach and someone is saying “Wait, it is a public holiday here.”
It is not because Australia cannot coordinate. It is because every state got there at its own pace. The idea was simple: eight hours for work, eight for rest and eight for whatever keeps you sane. Each state fought for it separately which means they also celebrate it separately.
It all started in Victoria back in 1856 when the stonemasons decided enough was enough. New South Wales and Queensland followed not long after. South Australia and Tasmania eventually joined in, proving progress takes its time. Western Australia came decades later, unbothered by everyone else’s schedule. Canberra followed New South Wales and the Northern Territory joined much later with its own May Day.
Sound familiar? It should. Business works the same way. Every business has its own version of Labour Day. That point where you stop to celebrate how busy you still are.
Some think they have made it, some actually have and the rest are too busy working to notice.
So next time you see someone else celebrating their big milestone, do not stress. You are not behind. You are just in a different state of progress.
On the other hand if you are a small business owner still working twelve hours a day, congratulations. You are just waiting for your Labour Day!!!
PS: I am not a historian but just someone who works enough hours to respect the ones who fought for eight.