From the Desk of the COO
Labor Day weekend is upon us. That means most people are finalizing plans for cookouts and other non-work-related get-togethers with family and friends over the long holiday weekend. Ironic that we shorten the work week by a day each September and gather outside the workplace in order to celebrate our achievements inside the workplace. Or is it?
After doing some research I came to find out that it’s not ironic at all. Labor Day began as both a means to unify workers while also helping to reduce their overall time at work. So, it would seem that the modern-day trend is actually not too far off from the founders’ original concept. People certainly find unity in their affinity for long weekends, and are grateful to have reduced work hours. However, the inception of Labor Day had a whole different set of challenges that have inextricably shaped the work culture we know today.
For starters, part of the original mission was to champion for an eight-hour work day and a six-day work week. Prior to that many laborers were working 60-70 hours per week, seven days a week. The other consideration is that with the reduced hours came increased free time for workers to spend their hard-earned money traveling, shopping, and dining. That, in turn, led many people back into the workplace in order to take advantage of the commercial opportunity.
What began as a holiday to relieve people from too much time at work, actually spurred an economic movement that strategically placed a subset of other people back in the workplace, which is why we see so many retail stores, restaurants, and other B2C companies open for business each Labor Day. While the intricacies have evolved over the years, the essence of the movement remains in that it highlights the interconnectivity of our system and the balance we steadily strive to achieve as a nation of workers.
Beyond that, it drives us to continually fine-tune that balance and pushes us to find new ways to improve our quality of life both inside and outside the workplace. As COO, one of my main objectives is to ensure that we not rest on our laurels as a company, but ardently forge ahead to find a work-life balance that produces better quality work and happier workers. So, this Labor Day weekend take some time to appreciate how celebrating a day off has created new opportunities that continue to shape businesses to this day, and be proud that you embody the indelible spirit and ingenuity of the American worker … then it’s back to work! 
Sincerely,
Ezra Stark, Chief Operating Officer
Stark Enterprises is a full-service real estate development company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio with the highest level of expertise in acquisition, development, leasing, property management, construction, architectural design, landscape architecture, marketing, and security. Currently, Stark Enterprises owns 30+ properties across seven states, including Crocker Park in Westlake, Ohio, Solstice in Los Angeles, California, The Icon in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Beacon at 515 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, and more.
