What is National Boss’s Day?

Bosses play an important role in the workplace. They inspire and lead from the front, influencing the atmosphere, morale, and corporate culture of an organization. By working closely with employees, they train and nurture talent and can make or break a company.

Naturally, they deserve their own special holiday to be celebrated. Observed on October 16th, National Boss’s Day is a day to celebrate those who are in leadership positions in the workplace. If this day falls on a weekend, businesses celebrate Boss’s Day on the closest working day. 

There are a lot of responsibilities that fall on the shoulders of bosses, so a gift or Boss’s Day group card is the least you can do. They’re often the ones responsible for the performance of their team and manage the pressure to achieve. National Boss’s Day is a great opportunity to recognize the hard work that goes into being in leadership. 

What are the Origins of National Boss’s Day?

National Boss’s Day began in 1958. Patricia Bays Haroski is credited with registering for the holiday while she was working as a secretary for State Farm. She chose October 16th because it was her dad’s birthday. Fun fact: her dad was actually her boss at the time! 

It was Haroski’s opinion that some young employees, just starting their careers, did not understand that being a boss is a hard job. They saw bosses as frequent critics and didn’t understand their hard work and dedication. 

National Boss’s Day was meant to improve the relationship between bosses and their employees. In 1962, the governor of Illinois officially declared National Boss’s Day a holiday, and in 1979, Hallmark rolled out their National Boss’s Day card. 

8 Ways to Celebrate National Boss’s Day 

There are so many ways to celebrate National Boss’s Day. The most important thing is to make sure it is personal to your boss. Take some time to consider what would resonate with them and help them feel appreciated. 

Since the point of the holiday is to let your boss know that you appreciate their hard work, focus on how they contribute to the productivity and culture of the workplace. Here are some ideas to inspire you on how to celebrate your boss on October 16:

1. Send a Group eCard

Sometimes the simplest answer is the right answer. A Boss’s Day group e-card is a great way to bring the team together for a shared gift. Kudoboard has some excellent options for group e-cards for the workplace. 

They are so easy to create. Simply choose a template, personalize it, and send invitations for the team to contribute to them. It is helpful to choose a theme or a purpose for the messages in the card. Some options could be to share a funny story, a favorite memory, pictures, videos, memes, etc. This makes the group eCard feel cohesive and give the team an idea of what to post. 

2. Potluck With Your Boss’s Favorite Foods

They say the stomach is the way to someone’s heart, and we don’t disagree. Put together a fun lunch for your boss this year. Find out what their favorite foods are and put together a potluck. Have each employee sign up to bring a dish, and put together an awesome meal for your leader on National Boss’s Day. 

If you want to bring in takeout, DoorDash or UberEats is a great option to order in for the day. Having your boss’s favorite meal is a great way to show your appreciation this Boss’s Day. 

3. Collect Client and Customer Appreciation

Many companies are client-facing, but once a transaction has been completed, we typically do not hear from customers again. Why not gather memories or compliments from your company’s clients to compile together for your boss? 

This is a great way to express appreciation and make sure your boss knows that their hard work matters—even outside the org. A group ecard is a great way to compile these memories. You can create the board and then send the invitation to clients to add to. 

4. Day Off

Give your boss a day off (Okay, we know it’s not that simple, but hear us out). Many times, leaders do not take much time off because they have so much to get done. Make it easier for them by arranging for all of their responsibilities taken care of for the day.

You can gift them a round of golf or a gift card for a great restaurant or activity. This is definitely extra and a day off is certainly enough of a reward. Show your gratitude for your boss’s hard work by helping them take a day off to relax. 

5. Outline Successes

Compile a list of your boss’s accomplishments and share it with the team. You can create a slideshow with a group e-card as well to make it easy. Everyone appreciates seeing their accomplishments laid out in front of them. 

This is an amazing opportunity to help your boss feel seen for the hard work they have put in throughout their career. They’ll also be able to see the impact they’ve had on their team, making it a positive experience for everyone. It will help humanize their boss as they see what they have accomplished throughout the years. 

#BossDay

Don’t let October 16th go by without celebrating your boss in some way. We like a simple group ecard and think that Kudoboard is a great solution to help you celebrate (but, we’re biased, of course). You can create not only a group ecard, but you can print it into a poster, a photobook, or create a slideshow. The options are endless. 

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how you celebrate National Boss’s Day, just make sure you celebrate it. Show gratitude and appreciation for the hard work your boss puts in every day!