Laboring on Labor Day
While many people will enjoy Monday's national day of rest with barbecues or lake trips, there are some who will head off to work as on any other day.
James Mock, 17, a new employee at Quizno's Subs in Evans, will work on Labor Day instead of hanging out with friends.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
For the first time, James Mock, 17, will be working Labor Day. He'll be serving those who took the day off from behind the counter of Quizno's Subs in Evans. He just started his first real job last week and is expecting to work his first holiday.
James said that normally, he'd be enjoying the holiday in the same fashion as many other Columbia County residents.
"I'd be at a barbecue at a friend's house," James said, adding that most of his friends will probably be partying the day away. But, he added, they'll probably be broke.
With that in mind, James says working a Labor Day doesn't bother him.
"You get money," he said. "I can buy me some new clothes."
Evans High School student Patrick Willingham, 18, has worked at Firehouse Subs in West Town shopping center for a year and a half. He spent the past Labor Day working and hopes to have Labor Day off.
"If I'm working it's not that big of a loss," Willingham said, adding that the money in his pocket is worth it. "It teaches you responsibility, and it builds character."
Willingham said if he has the day off, he'll spend it at the lake or at a picnic with friends and family. Since Willingham's shift wouldn't start until the afternoon, he plans to hit a barbecue or two before work, and maybe more after work, if they are still going.
"If they are still open that time of night, oh yeah," Willingham said.
James said he'll try, but he might not make it to Labor Day festivities after his shift ends at 3 p.m.
"Most of the time, I'm too tired to actually do anything," James said.
Willingham is gearing up for a fairly busy day at Fire House Subs, but he said it's nothing he can't handle.
"If you can work the Fourth of July, it really isn't that hard to work a Labor Day," Willingham said. "Pretty much as the sun starts to go down and everybody comes in from the lake or gets ready to go out, we get pretty slammed. We're not like off-the-wall bust, but it's a pretty good holiday."