Boss’s Day
Boss’s Day is a holiday celebrated either on October 16th or on the nearest working day if it falls on a weekend. This day is observed not only in the United States but also in Canada, India, and Lithuania. The purpose of this day is for employees to show appreciation to their boss. As an observance, it is not a nationwide public holiday, and schools, government buildings, or businesses are not closed on that day.
United States (Observance)History of Boss’s Day
Boss’s Day can be traced back to 1958 when Patricia Bays Haroski, an employee of State Farm Insurance Co. in Deerfield, Illinois, registered the holiday with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She chose October 16th as the day for the holiday because it was also her father’s birthday. She created this holiday not only to honor her own boss but also to allow all employees to honor their bosses. She believed that Boss’s Day would help improve employer-employee relations. In 1962, Illinois Governor Otto Kerner learned of the holiday and officially proclaimed the day as an observance. While it originated as an American holiday, interest in Boss’s Day has spread to countries like India, Lithuania, Australia, and South Africa.
Boss’s Day Customs & Celebrations
Traditionally, Boss’s Day is celebrated by employees giving their boss or supervisor a card. However, in recent years, gifts given on Boss’s Day have become more substantial than just a card. People are giving candy and chocolates, and some offices are pooling their money together to buy even larger gifts.
Boss’s Day Controversy
Over the past few years, Boss’s Day has sparked controversy. Some people feel that Boss’s Day is an outdated concept that should end. Several reasons are cited for this viewpoint, but the main ones are that it puts undue financial pressure on employees, creates an atmosphere of forced appreciation, and flies in the face of etiquette.
United States (Observance)
