‘Knocker uppers’ woke people up with a stick
In the past, people had to work very long and extensive hours every day. There was no such a thing as workers’ rights, and bosses made sure that their employees went to work, no matter the cost. That is why they hired “knocker uppers.” These men’s sole purpose was to wake up people from their slumber.
Today, it’s hard to imagine waking up to someone tapping on your window with a long stick. These people’s occupation was mainly to wake people up in the mornings so that they did not miss a day of their work. Knocker uppers helped bosses ensure that everyone attended to the factory every day.