As the name of the holiday suggests, Thanksgiving is a day of giving thanks and being grateful. For many, they show gratitude for the materials things they have and overcoming certain challenges.
But this Thanksgiving, let us not forget to thank the people, particularly the construction workers who have built communities and shelter with their hands. They could be a part of the project management for construction who are managing construction laborers and tasks, creating construction schedules, and preparing punch lists. Or they might be the workers who, with their blood, sweat, and tears, do the concrete work, operate the machines, and lay down the foundation.
The History of Thanksgiving
Historically speaking, this holiday began over two centuries ago in 1621 when the Wampanoag Native Americans and the Plymouth colonists sat together and shared an autumn harvest feast considered today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations among the colonies. Before President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed in 1863 Thanksgiving Day be held every November, individual states and colonies celebrated their thanksgiving days.
From that day on, American families and friends come together on the fourth Thursday of November to celebrate all they are thankful for.
Thanksgiving For Construction Workers
By law, all construction work is prohibited on Thanksgiving. On federal and District government holidays like Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, construction work that requires a permit is illegal. It could result in fines and a Stop Work Order. But this holiday means more than just a well-deserved day off of work.
The construction industry remains to be one of the dangerous and physically intense industries to work in. From high risks in falling and electrocution to carrying heavy objects and climbing high scaffolding, waking up early and going home late, construction workers risk their lives to see a building design plan come to life.
These people deserve more than a single day every few months to rest, to feel appreciated. So this Thanksgiving extended your gratitude to the men and women who work hard from day one of the project, from planning and design to concrete finishing to painting. Show them that their strength, intellect, and resilience do not go unnoticed.
If you are an industry worker yourself, take this time to truly relax and give yourself a pat on the back to raise monstrous buildings and give people a roof over their heads. Do the same for your fellow workers.
But because times are different right now, hosting parties need to be held off, even if celebrating the workers’ efforts. This year, show your appreciation in other, safer ways: write them a note, show them off with a social media post, or give them a gift.
But don’t let it end there. Don’t just take this day to make them feel special. People in construction deserve year-round appreciation.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday Gift Ideas
Today, you can’t have Thanksgiving without Black Friday and Cyber Monday, where significant retailers slash prices and offer great deals for the biggest sale of the year. So if you’re looking for the perfect gift for a contractor or construction worker or just wanting to spruce up your own set, now is the best time to go holiday shopping for some new tools and equipment.
Plus, you don’t have to wait in line at four in the morning for store doors to open– sales this year started long before Black Friday and will end long after Cyber Monday. And the great thing is, you can shop online, right in the comfort of your own home.
For more of the best Black Friday deals, check out our list here .
1. Ironton 100-Piece Screwdriver Set with Rack (Northern Tool)
Anyone in the trades would want a great set of screwdrivers, and this 100-piece set by Ironton is just what they need, packed with a variety of screwdrivers and bits.
All the pieces in this set are made of chrome vanadium steel, which guarantees they’re long-lasting. Plus, the user will experience comfort and control because of the ergonomic double-injected handles.
This Ironton set includes:
● 1 Ratchet handle;
● 1 Storage rack;
● 2 Offset screwdrivers;
● 4 Square screwdrivers;
● 6 Star screwdrivers;
● 6 Phillips screwdrivers;
● 6 Nut drivers;
● 7 Slotted screwdrivers;
● 8 Precision screwdrivers; and
● 60 Bits.
If you buy a set today, you can get it for just $19.99 and save $10!
2. RYOBI ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless Compact Cut-Off Tool (Home Depot)
You can buy high-quality power tools without breaking the bank– this $99 Ryobi cut-off tool proves just that.
It carries a brushless motor that delivers more power for quite a long time and even gives it a longer motor life. The wire base makes sure that the straight-out flat to the surface. Pair that with dual LEDs that illuminate forward and backward cutting directions, you’ll get improved stability and accuracy in cutting.
Not only that, but this tool can cut through plastic, pipe, tile, drywall, shelving, PVC, vinyl siding, cement board, and metal.
3. Little Giant Ladders Multi Aluminum 18-ft Reach Type 1A – 300 lbs. Capacity Telescoping Multi-Position Ladder (Lowe’s)
Do you know someone who works in home improvement or residential construction? Or are you someone who works on home improvement or residential construction? Either way, this Little Giant Multi ladder is a great find. It’s versatile, durable, and meets OSHA and ANSI safety standards.
It can reach a maximum height of 18 feet in extension ladder position, helping its user reach high-up places, making it perfect for even commercial building projects. The Multi ladder also has multiple configurations: extension, A-frame, staircase or 90-degree ladder, and trestle-and-plank scaffolding system. With this diversity, you’ll probably only need this ladder for most, if not all, your projects.
More than that, it can carry up to 300 pounds while safety and stability are unmatched because of the wide-flared legs and aerospace-grade aluminum construction. Plus, the new spring-assisted Rapid Lock adjustments make adjusting easier compared to the manual U-locks.
If you purchase one on or before November 25, you can get it for $139 and save $40.
4. X-Space Organizer Set (Northern Tool)
What good are tools if there’s nothing to store them in? Help out a friend and improve their organization with this X-Space organizer set.
This set is made up of two plastic organizers with a transparent lid for easy and quick viewing of its contents. These two organizers also easily detach and interlock with each other for convenient but secure carrying. In addition to that, the dividers, which can hold sockets, bits, screws, and other tools, can be easily removed so the user can rearrange it however they please.
The great thing about this is that it only costs $8.99 if you buy one today. Wait too long and you’ll have to pay its full $14.99 price.
5. RYOBI 18-Volt ONE+ Lithium-Ion Cordless 4-Tool Combo Kit with (2) Batteries, 18-Volt Charger, and Bag-P1818 (Home Depot)
This is arguably the best gift you can give a tradesperson, even if that tradesperson is yourself. This Ryobi set comes with four power tools that can subjectively make any construction job more comfortable and better.
The main tools that are part of this set are:
● A drill/driver that features a ½-inch single sleeve keyless chuck, a 24-position clutch, and a 2-speed gearbox (0-450 and 1,750 RPM);
● An impact driver with a variable-speed trigger and can deliver up to 1,800 inch-pounds of torque and 3,200 IPM;
● A P519 reciprocating saw with a 1-inch stroke length and 3,400 SPM for cutting up to 60% faster than a P514 and also a variable speed trigger for better cutting control over a wide variety of materials; and
● An 18-volt LED work light with 160-lumen light output can run up to 35 hours and has an ergonomic design that allows it to be mounted on a 2×4.
This set also comes with:
● One 1.5Ah battery and one 4.0Ah battery both contain lithium-ion cells that make their overall life longer;
● One 18-volt 2.0Ah charger, compatible with the lithium-ion batteries; and
● A bag to carry all these tools in.
Taking advantage of the Black Friday deal, you can save $70 on this set. So, hurry up and get four power tools for $139 while the deal still stands.
We have a gift for you!
We at Pro Crew Schedule would like to show how much we appreciate the construction industry contractors and workers. Aside from a heartfelt “Thank you,” we have a special treat for the contractors. You can get 20% off on a 1-year subscription to any of our plans.
You can virtually track your projects’ progress, monitor your crew members, and efficiently run your business with just one digital tool. But you better hurry because the promo period only runs from November 6 to November 27.
