Home / October

A little reason to celebrate

National Boss's Day

Fun · October 16

National Boss's Day is a workplace occasion for thanking the managers and supervisors who guide a team, usually with a card or small gesture.

National Boss's Day falls on Saturday, October 16, 2027. That is 354 days away.

A good boss is easy to overlook. When things run smoothly, the person keeping them smooth tends to disappear into the background, answering questions, clearing obstacles and signing off on the time you needed for that dentist appointment.

National Boss's Day gives employees a reason to say thanks to the people they report to. In most offices it stays modest. A card passed around for signatures, a box of pastries in the break room, maybe a team lunch. Nobody expects grand gifts, and most managers would feel a little awkward receiving one.

The kindest versions tend to be specific. "Thanks for everything" is fine, but "thanks for backing me up in that meeting" is the kind of note people keep in a desk drawer for years. It also helps when the gesture comes from the whole team rather than one person, so it reads as appreciation instead of strategy.

The word itself has an interesting past. English speakers borrowed "boss" from the Dutch word baas, meaning master, and it took hold in American speech when people wanted a word for an employer that sounded less formal than "master."

Plenty of people also use the occasion to think about bosses from earlier jobs, the first manager who trusted them with something important or taught them how to handle a difficult customer. A short message to one of them can land well, even years later.

Ways to celebrate

• Sign a group card with one specific thank you each.
• Bring in coffee or pastries for the whole team.
• Send a short note to a former boss who helped you.
• Tell your manager about one thing they did that made work easier.

Dates

All national days on October 16

Also on October 16

• National Liqueur Day
• Sweetest Day
• Dictionary Day

Categories: Fun days