MLK Day Reveals Gap Between Workers with Holiday Leave and Without
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the contrast between workers who receive holiday leave and those who do not came to light in Corpus Christi, Texas. While many enjoyed a day off to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, numerous individuals continued their regular work schedules.
The Divide on MLK Day
A visit to a local Stripes convenience store revealed mixed feelings about the holiday. One customer noted that while his wife had the day off due to her job in insurance, he was unsure who else at work could take advantage of the federal holiday. “Who gets it off?” he inquired.
Impact on Workers
- Many businesses across Corpus Christi remained open on MLK Day.
- Some workers expressed that taking time off was not a feasible option.
- A cashier from Bleu Frog mentioned, “Even if I wanted to take the day off, it wouldn’t be good for me.”
This sentiment echoed a broader theme, where those required to work on the holiday reflected on the disparities in workplace policies. “In theory, it isn’t fair,” one employee said. “But I think there’s only a reasonable amount of people that can be off.”
Small Business Considerations
For small business owners, staying open often proves practical. Jason Rodriguez, the owner of Hesters on Alameda Street, explained, “We’re closed Sundays when most places aren’t, so a lot of times when we have these three-day weekends, Monday is a good day for us.”
MLK’s Legacy and Economic Justice
The day not only serves as a time for reflection but highlights ongoing issues of economic justice. Dr. Nancy Vera, an educator attending an MLK forum at the Nueces County Courthouse, articulated this divide well. “There are two types of people who live in the U.S.—those that are able to take advantage of things and those who are not,” she stated. Ironically, those who must work on this federal holiday often represent the population Dr. King advocated for.
This ongoing disparity emphasizes that, even decades after Dr. King’s calls for equality, opportunities and benefits are still not distributed evenly among the workforce.
