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Notes From The Field
September 2022
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Labor Day: Capitalism and Celebrating the American Worker
Workers became quite desperate for humane treatment and thus began organizing marches and protests. This led to a few horrific incidents, the most well-known being the Haymarket Riot. On May 4, 1886, a labor protest rally took place near Chicago’s Haymarket Square and violence ensued when an unknown individual threw a bomb at the police, killing eight civilians and police officers. In the end, eight labor activists were convicted in connection with the bombing despite a complete lack of evidence, and seven of them were sentenced to death. This event was viewed as a setback for the labor force initiatives although the men who were executed are often considered martyrs by many in the workforce. It was in the wake of further protests and marches that many states began recognizing Labor Day as a holiday. These states included New York, Oregon, Colorado, and Massachusetts, to name a few. Congress passed an act on June 28, 1894, making the first Monday of September the official federal holiday Labor Day. Since then, the holiday has been celebrated by the American people in the form of parades, barbecues, and community parties! In our office, one of our brand values is capitalism. We believe every American citizen has the right to own property, create for themselves a fulfilling life, and actualize their life’s purpose. When I think about the activists who fought for fair treatment and better work conditions, I am struck by the profound impact of workers in this nation. They are the backbone of our society, and it is through the united efforts of ordinary people that this nation progresses closer to the realization of our values: liberty and justice for all. As you celebrate Labor Day this month, I encourage you to honor the contributions made by those in the workforce today. Show extra kindness to the people serving your coffee, thank the clerk at your local grocery store, or take a break and reflect on the impact you have had in your community and workplace. Whatever you choose to do, we hope you have a restful and fulfilling Labor Day!
September is upon us once again, and with it comes the end of summer, marked by the celebration of Labor Day! While kids have likely been in school for a few weeks already, Labor Day has always acted as the unofficial end to summer and the beginning of fall. I spent a good amount of time reflecting on the significance of this holiday and want to share with you pieces of its history and how it ties into our values as a company. As the name suggests, Labor Day is a holiday celebrating the accomplishments and hard work of all the American citizens who make up the workforce. Without them and their contributions, industries collapse and the whole of our society suffers. It is important to understand that the context for creating this federal holiday was not simple appreciation; it came about in a time when workers were severely mistreated by the companies they worked for. In the 1870s and 1880s, the United States saw a rise of workers and labor unions calling for shorter workdays and better conditions. At the time, the average work week was 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, there were few child labor restrictions and laws throughout the states, resulting in children as young as 5 and 6 working in mills, factories, and mines for significantly less pay than adults in the same job.
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BRAIN GAMES
Back-to-School and Autumn Jokes
Why do math books always look so sad? They’re full of problems.
SOLUTION
What did the paper say to the pencil? Write on!
How do you fix a broken pumpkin? With a pumpkin patch!
What is a scarecrow’s favorite type of fruit? Straw-berries!
What is a tree’s least favorite month of the year? Sep-TIMBER!
Cesar Chavez: Sí se puede
graduating from the eighth grade. Instead of attending high school, he worked full time in the fields before lying about his age to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He served for two years before being honorably discharged and marrying his sweetheart, Helen Fabela. In the years after, Cesar became a full-time organizer for the Community Service Organization (CSO). He later moved to Delano, California, and worked with his wife and Dolores Huerta to establish the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA). They fought fiercely using nonviolent methods for farm workers’ rights, minimum wage, and unemployment insurance. He would go on to partner with other organizations culminating in the famous grape strike to secure better conditions for farmhands in California and the United States at large. To this day, Cesar Chavez remains a Mexican American icon for his dedication to the betterment of workers. He taught his community that when they stood united, they could accomplish powerful things. In his words, “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community.”
As we celebrate the dedication and contributions of American workers, it is only fitting we honor one of the greatest activists for workers’ rights: Cesar Chavez. Born March 31, 1927, Cesar was born to a family of farmers in the southwestern region of Arizona near the city of Yuma. His family was devoutly Catholic
and deeply dedicated to their work and family. His family ran a farm, grocery store, garage, and pool hall before being evicted in 1938. When they were forced to leave their home, the family became migrant farmers, traveling from farm to farm and often living under trees or in their car. During the summer months, everyone in the family had to tend the land of the farm they were working for just to put enough food on the table. Cesar attended 37 different schools, many of which were segregated and severely prejudiced against Latinx immigrants, throughout his primary education. He left school behind upon
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Workers shouldn’t have to choose between the job they need and the family members they love. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was created to allow employees to take reasonable unpaid leave for a particular family or medical reason so they can maintain a work/life balance. What does it provide? The FMLA provides eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave a year with the requirement of group health benefits to be maintained during the leave as if employees were continuing to work. They are also entitled to resume their same or equivalent job at the end of their FMLA leave. Who is eligible for FMLA? FMLA applies to all public agencies, all public and private elementary and secondary schools, and companies with 50 or more employees. Employees can be eligible for FMLA if they have worked for their employer for at least 12 months, worked at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location that employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles. When can I use FMLA leave? An eligible employee can be granted up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for the following reason(s): LIFE CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE Preserving the Balance of Work and Family Life
TAKE A BREAK
GOULASH, HUNGARY’S NATIONAL DISH
Ingredients
• 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes • 1 tsp Italian seasoning • 1 tsp paprika • 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese • Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1 yellow onion, chopped • 2 cloves of garlic, minced • 1lb ground beef • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1 tbsp tomato paste • 1 1/4 cups beef broth • 1 15-oz can tomato sauce
• Birth of and/or bonding with a newborn child
• The placement of a child for adoption or foster care with the employee
• To care for an immediate family member with a serious condition (child, spouse, or parent, but does not include parent in-laws)
Directions
• To take medical leave when the employee is unable to work due to a serious health condition
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and wait for it to heat. 2. Once heated, add onion and cook for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute. 3. Next, add the ground beef to the skillet, and cook until no longer pink. Drain the grease, then add salt and pepper. 4. Stir in the tomato paste, beef broth, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Season with Italian seasoning and paprika. Add macaroni to the skillet. 5. Bring mixture to a simmer and let it cook for 15 minutes. Stir the pasta occasionally. 6. Mix in the cheddar cheese and remove the heat.
• For qualifying exigencies arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, child, or parent is on covered active duty or call to covered active-duty status as a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or Regular Armed Forces The FMLA exists so employees can tend to their families without worrying about their job, allowing them to provide the best care for their loved ones. For more information regarding whether or not your company is eligible for FMLA, check out your local government agency for more details.
Inspired by Delish.com
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818-369-7900 FieldLawPC.com
P.O. Box 8306 La Crescenta, CA 91224 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Labor Day: Capitalism and Celebrating the American Worker
Caleb’s Corner: Back-to-School and Autumn Jokes Cesar Chavez: Sí se puede Goulash, Hungary’s National Dish Your Guide to Family and Medical Leave
How Did Real Pirates Talk?
The Origin of Pirate Talk ‘Ahoy, Matey!’
both groups tended to be from riverfront neighborhoods around London. How Disney Started It All Modern “pirate speak” can actually be traced back to a single movie: the live-action Disney movie of the 1950s, “Treasure Island,” starring Robert Newton as fictional pirate Long John Silver. Woodard explained, “Newton’s
Talk Like a Pirate Day on Sept. 19 has been a favorite silly holiday since it was created in 1995. But while it’s an opportunity for vloggers, radio hosts, and everyday people alike to let loose with a few hearty shouts of “arrrr,” the holiday certainly raises a couple of questions …
Did pirates really talk like that? And why do we think they do?
The truth is that nobody really knows what a typical Caribbean pirate sounded like. Historian Colin Woodard, author of “The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down,” told National Geographic, “There isn’t much in the way of scientific evidence in regards to pirate speech.” No audio recordings of pirate speech exist, and most witnesses have only written down small sets of quotes from pirates. Pirates didn’t really write, either. There’s “almost nothing written by pirates themselves, with the exception of educated people who ‘went pirate’ and, therefore, probably didn’t exhibit pirate speech patterns,” Woodard said. Our best guess? Many scholars suspect that English-speaking Golden Age pirates must have spoken exactly the same as English- speaking merchant sailors of the time. After all, large numbers in
performance — full of ‘arrs,’ ‘shiver me timbers,’ and references to ‘landlubbers’ — not only stole the show, but it also permanently shaped pop culture’s vision of how pirates looked, acted, and spoke.” After that movie, “Newtonesque” pirates were seen everywhere, from Captain Hook to Captain McCallister of “The Simpsons.” Still, there is a little truth in some pirate phrases. Not unlike the Canadian “eh,” “arr” was an affirmation in the English West Country during the early 20th century. Some phrases, such as “me hearties,” were simply universal 18th-century nautical terms. Although “pirate speak” today is mostly Hollywood magic, it’s still fun! Give it a try this September, and we’re sure it’ll make you smile — even if the true pirate dialect is much more mysterious.
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