History of Labor DayThe first Labor Day occurred in 1882 in New York City under the direction of that city’s Central Labor Union. The New-York Tribune’s reporter covering the event felt the entire day was like one long political barbecue, with “rather dull speeches.”Why Was Labor Day Invented? Labor Day came about because workers felt they were spending too many hours and days on the job. They also focused on getting workers more days off, such as the Labor Day holiday, and reducing the workweek to just six days. Common MisconceptionsThe common misconception is that since Labor Day is a national holiday, everyone gets the day off.