For many, what used to be a day to pay tribute to the American worker has become just another day … another workday, that is.

That’s not the way it should be.

Since Congress officially proclaimed in 1894 that the first Monday in September be celebrated as Labor Day, the “holiday” has undergone drastic changes. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the early pattern of Labor Day celebrations included parades to exhibit “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community. Festivals would follow for workers and their families.

Not anymore. Because it is a federal holiday, schools are sure to observe the day – a nice perk for students, teachers and administrators. But as for many other companies or businesses, they choose to stay open, the promise of a “holiday weekend” profit too tempting to pass up.

A Chicago Tribune article estimated that 34.1 million Americans would ring up about $3.5 billion in sales over the Labor Day weekend. To accommodate that, businesses such as retail stores and restaurants not only have to remain open but also have to schedule extra staff to handle the load.

And as for the workers, some don’t mind overlooking the meaning of the day in exchange for time-and-a-half pay.

But Labor Day should not be a day where some people get off work, and others have to work harder to accommodate those who don’t.

Labor Day should be celebrated as it was 100 years ago – a day on which few people work. We don’t need street festivals and parades to pay tribute to what the Department of Labor calls the “nation’s strength, freedom and leadership” – the American worker.

What we do need is time off to relax and spend time with family and friends.