Boss' Day (also spelled Bosses Day or Boss' Day) is widely celebrated in the United States. It has been pitched as a day for employees to thank their bosses for being kind and fair all year, but some have criticized the concept as nothing more than a meaningless Hallmark Holiday, as well as putting unfair pressure on employees to kowtow to managers who earn more than they do while exercising power over them.
1. What is the Date of Bosses’ Day?
The 16th of October is National Boss's Day, a day to honor the people who keep us working! "Boss" has become slang for something cool or excellent, so if you have a great boss, you could call them a boss boss. Do something nice for the boss in your life, whatever you call them.
2. Bosses’ Day History
In 1958, Patricia Bays Haroski registered "National Boss' Day" with the United States Chamber of Commerce. At the time, she was working as a secretary for State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Illinois for her father, and she chose October 16, her father's birthday.
The goal of designating a special day at work is to show her bosses the appreciation she believes they deserve. This was also intended to improve interoffice relationships between managers and their employees. Haroski believed that young employees did not always appreciate their supervisors' hard work and dedication to their jobs, as well as the challenges they faced. Four years later, in 1962, Illinois Governor Otto Kerner supported Haroski's registration and declared the day officially.
Hallmark Cards did not sell a Boss' Day card until 1979. In 2007, it increased the size of its National Boss' Day line by 28%.
3. Bosses’ Day Activities
Contribute to making their days memorable
In honor of the occasion, why not purchase a cute greeting card for you and your coworkers to sign? Or chip in to buy a fun gift or something they've mentioned needing. Have a difficult-to-buy-for boss? Consider making a donation to a local charity in their honor.
Tell them how much they mean to you
Send a heartfelt email to your boss expressing your gratitude. If you're feeling fancy, you can write them an old-fashioned letter thanking them for their inspiration and dedication. In either case, they'll appreciate your appreciation.
Assist on the job
Unless you know your boss's preferences for books or flowers, consider an intangible gesture. Inquire about what you could do to make their job easier. The response could be as simple as showing up on time or making sure the printer paper is refilled, but it could also be an opportunity to advance as a professional by taking on a daily report or a quarterly goal. In any case, the offer to go above and beyond will almost certainly be appreciated.
Highlight Boss's Day on your company's intranet
Take a cue from Google's doodles for holidays and special occasions. If you're like most people, those bright announcements have probably reminded you of an important event more than once! Do the same for your employees, and add a "Happy Boss's Day" message to your internal websites. Set the tone for the rest of the day by being cute, funny, or sincere.
Earn some points
Boss's Day is an excellent opportunity to recognize your managers on your company's recognition platform. When you give that recognition, make sure to tie it to a company value to reinforce your mission and the culture you want to foster.
Send a digital greeting card from the team
Create a digital greeting card that allows employees to easily add their name to a greeting for their manager. This is a fun twist on the old trick of forming a circle around the water cooler to sign a group card. It's much simpler, but it can also be very special if you encourage employees to express themselves through personalized messages, digital stickers, emojis, and funny GIFs.
Take care of your boss
Most managers have to lead their teams while also following orders from their superiors, so it's no surprise that they are stressed. Bring in massage therapists for onsite chair massages throughout the day to help them relax. Bliss!
Choose your own prize
The best gifts are useful or beloved items. How do you satisfy such a diverse group of leaders? Allow them to choose their own gift from a special Boss's Day menu of options. Instead of a generic corporate mug, your delighted bosses can select from a variety of gift cards, travel gear, tech gadgets, and other items.
Allow them to eat cake
Never underestimate the power of baked goods to make you happy right away. Boss's Day is the ideal time to decorate the break room with a special dessert table. The cake may have an icing message for Boss's Day, but making sure there's enough for everyone boosts everyone's morale.
Flip the script on feedback
Good managers understand the value of gathering employee feedback, but how often are they asked for their own suggestions? Make Boss's Day a time to listen to their suggestions for improving the employee experience. Listening actively to all of your employees includes listening to your leaders and managers, so figure out what they need — and then make it happen.
Send a video thank you
A personal word of thanks from the CEO can be a very powerful form of appreciation for your management team — but no one wants to sit through another meeting. Instead, make a video of some heartfelt words that people can watch during their coffee break or lunch.
Make plans for a trip
Although not all team building activities must be labeled as such, activities such as a ropes course, solving a "escape the room" puzzle, or doing some volunteer work will undoubtedly encourage your team to be more collaborative and creative. Hosting a truly enjoyable professional development activity is an excellent way to make Boss's Day memorable.
The never-ending present
For something truly unique, ask your managers to name one gift that would immediately benefit their entire team. Perhaps it is something on this list that has been extended to everyone; perhaps it is a new refrigerator, some flexible hours, or anti-glare computer screens. If you can make it happen, you'll let them know you listened to their concerns and have stepped up to assist everyone in doing their best work.
4. Bosses’ Day Quotes
“Thank you for all that you do for this company and your employees, I’ll always be grateful to work with a boss as hardworking and team-oriented as you.
Not every employee is lucky enough to have a boss as friendly and amazing as you, which is why I want to thank you for always being there for your employees and putting their needs first.”
“I couldn’t put into words how much we all appreciate your hard work and attention to detail when it comes to providing your intelligence and creativity for this company and its employees. Cheers to the best boss ever!”
“I really enjoy working with you and learning more and more about professional life from you. Thank you for being a great boss; I’ll always appreciate your helpful advice.”
“Your dedication to the success of this company never goes unnoticed, which is why you must know that all your employees and I appreciate your untiring hard work greatly.”
