Boss's Day is a celebration of employer leadership all over the country. Each year, people celebrate the day on October 16th. If the appointed date falls on a non-working day, the holiday gets recognized on the next business day.
National Boss Day has been around since 1958. A woman named Patricia Bays Haroski worked at State Farm Insurance and registered October 16th, her father's birthday, with the United States Chamber of Commerce.
She wanted to improve the relationships between bosses and employees and thought a holiday celebrating leadership was a great way to accomplish that.
It was in 1962 when the governor of Illinois proclaimed the day an official observance. The day is now noted around the U.S. and even in some other countries.
Whether you like your boss or just want to keep peace in the office, it's probably a good idea to mark the occasion with a token of some kind.
If you're tired of giving the same flowers and candy out every year, here are eight fresh ideas for marking the occasion and showing your boss how much you appreciate them.
1. Party Honoring the Person
Instead of giving your boss a tangible gift, why not plan a party for the entire office?
Ask your fellow workers to prepare statements about what they admire in the person leading your group and recognize all the leaders in your corporation by giving them certificates and saying a few words about what you like about them.
Cake and drinks go a long way toward brightening anyone's day, and the words of appreciation are ones that will stay with the person for weeks ahead.
Does your leader have a great sense of humor? A roast in their honor may be exactly what they want most. Think about how you can put on a roast that's humorous but good-natured at the same time and highlights what you love about your office as well as your boss.
2. Certificate for a Massage
No matter what kind of company you run, you can be certain your leader has a lot of stress on them.
Some people carry their stress in their neck or shoulders, and what better way to relieve that stress than with a lunchtime massage?
Give your boss a certificate to help alleviate some of the trials of work and get out of the office for a short break. There are many places available now that provide quick escapes, such as Massage Envy locations.
If your boss is a daredevil and prefers a bit of danger, maybe an indoor parasailing certificate or a ride in a helicopter is more their style. If the expense is a bit more than you can juggle on your own, get a few or a bunch of employees to go in together for the gift.
3. Appreciation Award
Out of all the awards your manager receives, the one they treasure most might be the one you order for appreciation.
You can customize the award to highlight the qualities your boss has or to mark a specific milestone you reached together. Creating a one-of-a-kind award is a great way to show your boss how much they mean to you without spending a fortune or giving them the same gift they get year after year.
4. Solar Chargers
Your boss likely has meetings and is always on the run. But one issue with being out of the office is running out of power for their laptop, cell phone or other devices.
A solar charger sits on the window of their office or the dashboard of the car and charges up for those moments when your fearless leader needs a boost. Every time they don't run out of juice, they'll think of your gift.
5. Lunch Date
Your boss likely takes employees to lunch from time to time to show their gratitude. Why not turn the tables and invite your boss to lunch at their favorite place to eat?
Plan the day ahead of time and make sure everything is taken care of, including transportation.
Don't have time to leave the office? Order your boss lunch in on a day of their choosing.
6. Make a Donation
Get everyone involved and make a donation in your boss's name to a charity that's important to them.
If everyone chips in, you should be able to make a sizable donation. Another idea, if everyone is short on funds, is to donate some of your free time to working for that organization and then let your boss know you did it in honor of them.
7. Gift Cards
At first glance, gift cards might seem like an obvious choice.
However, when you factor in that you can make them more personalized by choosing them for places you know your boss loves and adding a note that you know it's their favorite restaurant or store, then they become more unique.
If you have a boss who hates clutter, then a certificate to their favorite restaurant or another experience-based gift is a perfect choice. On the other hand, if your boss loves plants, a gift of their choice from the local nursery makes more sense.
8. Thank You Video
Work with other members of your team to create a thank you video for your boss.
Record memories from each person of a time when the manager made a big difference in a project or their lives (work or personal). With some careful editing, you should be able to get the video down to a few minutes and feature only clips of the most important moments.
A video is something your boss can look back on when they're having a bad day and remember that their efforts are recognized by those they serve.
The Perfect Gift
The right gift for your boss may not be the best present for someone else's. You have to know the person well and figure out what speaks to their soul.
A thank you for Boss's Day doesn't have to cost a lot of money or time. It just requires thinking about what that individual cares most about and finding a way to recognize their passions and hard work throughout the year.
Lexie Lu
Lexie Lu is a freelance graphic designer and blogger. She keeps up with the latest design news and always has some coffee in close proximity. She writes on Design Roast and can be followed on Twitter @lexieludesigner.