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Our Workplace History and Potential Future
The History of Labor Day
The first Labor Day Parade took place in New York City on September 5th, 1882. It was a bold demonstration for workers’ rights, and twelve years later, Labor Day was officially signed into law as a national holiday to celebrate and honor the working class by giving them a well-deserved day off.
Sadly, we still have a long way to go when it comes to truly celebrating and honoring the workers of our country. We’re continuing to see the wage gap widen, and between corporate return-to-office mandates, rising fears around AI and automation, and a historic resurgence in union organizing, we’re experiencing one of the largest face-offs between workers and employers in our history.
The Future
So, where does that leave us for the future? Will American workplaces ever look the same again? Will we ever go back to the way things were, or has this been the reckoning we’ve needed after years of an imbalance in American working culture?
With Labor Day around the corner, I wanted to share a few books that I think are worth digging into. They’re great for sparking honest conversations about where work culture stands today—and the history that brought us here. It turns out so many of the challenges we’re facing aren’t new at all. And if we really want to make things better moving forward, looking a little deeper at the past is a good first step.
I also want to share a quick note on how I built this list. You might come across a title or two here that comes from a different perspective than your own, and that’s completely intentional! I didn’t pick these books because I agree with every single point or think any one of them has all the answers. I chose them to open a door to conversation. We’re living in such a polarized time, and it’s so easy to stay in our own corners. But I truly believe that taking a moment to listen, learn, and see why someone else holds a certain viewpoint is the first step toward understanding each other better.
As Walter Cronkite once said, “In seeking truth, you have to get both sides of the story.”
With that thought in mind, here are a few books that offer different windows into the history, reality, and future of work in America:
Labor Day Books To Read
The Great Resignation: The New Refusal of Work by Francesco Coin
Why it’s on the list: Grounded in over 200 in-depth interviews with everyday employees—from nurses and teachers to retail and restaurant workers—sociologist Francesca Coin looks at the global “Great Resignation” not as a random trend, but as a healthy act of self-preservation. It’s an eye-opening, deeply empathetic look at burnout, toxic work culture, and what happens when people decide that their human worth isn’t defined by a paycheck.
Wage Theft by Kim Bobo
Why it’s on the list: Billions of dollars in earned wages are stolen from millions of low-wage workers in the U.S. every single year. Kim Bobo details the staggering scope of this crisis while providing concrete examples of how local communities, congregations, and labor activists are working together to put an end to it.
Stayin’ Alive The 1970s and the Last Days of the Working Class by Jefferson Cowie
Why it’s on the list: Part labor history and part cultural deep-dive (complete with 1970s music and film lore), historian Jefferson Cowie reveals how American working-class optimism and New Deal prosperity began to hit the rocks, paving the way for the economic inequalities we see today.
We Own the Future: Democratic Socialism- American Style by Kate Aronoff
Why it’s on the list: With so many younger Americans questioning traditional capitalism, this collection of essays offers a practical, democratic vision of an economy built on equality, sustainability, and worker agency. It’s a great read for understanding the modern political left’s vision for the future.
Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor by Kim Kelly
Why it’s on the list: Independent labor reporter Kim Kelly excavates the hidden stories of the working-class heroes who built the labor movement—from freed Black women organizing in the Reconstruction-era South to immigrant garment workers and incarcerated laborers. It’s a powerful reminder that the rights we enjoy today, like the 40-hour workweek and safety standards, were earned through immense sacrifice.
$2.00 A Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America by Kathryn J. Edin and H. Luke Shaefer
Why it’s on the list: Grounded in two decades of research, this eye-opening book puts a deeply human face on extreme poverty in America, following families surviving with virtually no cash income. It’s a heart-wrenching, important read that challenges what we think we know about economic struggle.
In a Day’s Work: The Fight to End Sexual Violence Against America’s Most Vulnerable Workers by Bernice Yeung
Why it’s on the list: Pulitzer Prize finalist Bernice Yeung exposes the hidden epidemic of sexual harassment and assault faced by low-wage, immigrant women in agriculture, janitorial work, and domestic service—while honoring the courageous workers and allies fighting back for justice.
