20 Ways To Celebrate National Boss’s Day

What are you doing on October 16th? Hopefully, you'll be spending the day honoring your company's bosses for their leadership and contributions to your organization. It might not be the most famous date in your calendar, but this celebration has been around for 65+ years. 

In 1958, Patricia Bays Haroski, a secretary for State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Illinois, registered “National Boss’s Day" with the US Chamber of Commerce. The date was symbolic to her as it coincided with her father's birthday—he was also her boss. The registration was formally approved four years later, but it took until 1979 for Hallmark to start printing cards to mark the occasion. 

Nowadays, National Boss's Day is a fun holiday that can help your managers/leaders feel more valued and appreciated at work. This guide explores why you should get involved with 20 celebratory ideas and real-life boss experiences.

Why Celebrate The Managers In Your Organization? 

First up, some good news—when Nectar interviewed 1,000 full-time US employees: 

• 77.9% of employees reported that their managers get the recognition they deserve
• 77% of employees felt that their executives also receive the recognition they deserve 

Nevertheless, almost a quarter of employees don't feel this is the case. And it's also important to acknowledge that managers may not agree with the perception that they're appreciated. That said, here's a quick reminder about why we should celebrate our organization's bosses:

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National Boss’s Day Keeps Managers Motivated 

The reincarnation of the world of work has forced managers to adapt to leading remote or hybrid teams, experience team layoffs, and operate on restricted budgets. It’s easy for bosses to feel overworked and underappreciated.

While a calendar date can’t change any of these circumstances, recognizing a manager’s work on National Boss’s Day can produce some powerful results. According to participants in Nectar's employee recognition study:

• 83.6% of people report that recognition affects their motivation to succeed at work
• 81.9% of employees say recognition for their contributions improves their engagement

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National Boss’s Day Could Retain Your Best Leaders 

When organizations carve time out on October 16 to recognize their leaders, this can remind those bosses that they're valued. If these individuals are pondering their career path, this could be the boost they need to stick around. Once again, Nectar's research points to a strong link between recognition and retention, with 71% of workers reporting they'd be less likely to leave the organization if recognized more frequently.

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National Boss’s Day Reinforces Excellent Leadership 

When we call out our bosses' fantastic work, these are examples of the positive behavior or activities our company benefits from. Managers will take this feedback seriously, and repeat the actions that helped them earn the praise in the first place.

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 20 Ways To Acknowledge National Boss’s Day This Year 

Companies of any size or budget can take time in October to recognize their bosses' commitment. Borrow some of the celebratory ideas below and tailor them to the managers making waves in your organization:

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1. Sign A National Boss's Day Card

A celebratory National Boss's Day card is simple, sentimental, and cost-effective. Since it requires little more than a couple of days' preparation, it's perfect for last minute celebrations. It's straightforward to pass the card around and collect meaningful messages and signatures from all your team members. 

Nectar Tip: A sparse card filled with names and best wishes won't resonate with your managers as you intended. Ask the first person signing the card to pen a personal, humorous, or heartfelt message, which will encourage all other team members to follow suit and give the recipient something meaningful to read.

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2. Make A Magazine Cover

Use Canva or a similar design tool to create a customized magazine cover with your boss's photo and the heading "Boss of The Year." Include story headlines, captions, and fake articles highlighting your boss's achievements, personality, and quirks. Using a service like Canva Print or a local print shop to turn your magazine cover into a physical product will make it even more special. This is a fun and unique way to recognize your boss while giving them a good chuckle.

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3. Spread Love For Your Bosses On Social

Social recognition is a powerful tool year-round, but it's especially potent on National Boss's Day. Share photos and messages of appreciation for your bosses on social media platforms like LinkedIn, which shows your boss that you appreciate them.

Besides showcasing leaders on your company page, consider getting employees involved on their own social profiles. Consider putting a time on everyone's calendars to recognize their manager on LinkedIn for National Boss's Day. What's better than a social media flood of celebration around the leaders in your organization?

Both of these ideas are fantastic from an employer branding perspective, as they promote your company culture to potential candidates and customers. 

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4. Bring A Celebratory Breakfast In

Get your celebrations off to a flying start by providing some bosses (and their team members) with a hearty breakfast. Even better, follow the lead of Landmark Science and Engineering's staff, who made this a surprise treat for their bosses.

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In response to their LinkedIn shoutout, the company's Business Development Manager, Janet Pippert, enthuses, "Happy to turn the tables on giving appreciation to the bosses. We've got great leadership that're never bossy! Got to love that."

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5. Plan A Team Outing

While October 16 focuses on managers, it's also an opportunity for fantastic team-building activities. Ask your manager to pick an outing for their team. Here are some ideas:

• Hire an instructor to teach your team to paint a fun picture
• Book a team lunch (in case breakfast didn’t hit the spot) 
• Go bowling, paintballing, or try an Escape Room
• Take an outdoor excursion like a walking trail

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Nectar Tip: Encourage your manager to choose an inclusive activity that everyone can participate in. For example, it's usually best to avoid super-physical activities that may not suit every team member or happy hour events that can alienate non-drinkers.

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6. Design Digital Celebrations From Remote Team Members

Of course, distributed teams don't have the benefit of proximity to their bosses. But you can adapt many of the suggestions on this list to enjoy virtual celebrations on this special day. Here's how Cafely founder Mimi Nguyen's team celebrated with her:

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“National Boss’s Day is a funny little holiday. I’d honestly be fine skipping it altogether, but I always appreciate when my team does a little something to acknowledge it. Last year, my Cafely team surprised me with a digital card (think they used Magma for this!) a few days before the actual day. They filled it with sweet messages and funny company inside jokes that really made me smile.

‍‍We have a Discord channel for virtual snack breaks, always open for whoever's online looking for a chat, but on Boss's Day itself, I was thrilled to find most of the team there. As a known mint chocolate lover, I was surprised to see that everyone brought their own version of mint chocolate—ice cream, cookies, coffee—you name it! It made me feel really special, and we spent the time reviewing mint and talking about our WFH routines.

‍‍There were no big gifts or fancy gestures, just a simple way to connect and show appreciation. I believe gifts should flow downward, not upward, and that type of celebration hit the right note!”

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7. Give A Personalized Gift

If you prefer to focus directly on the manager rather than the entire team, try choosing a thoughtful, personalized gift that zooms into their hobbies and interests outside of work. These don't need to be expensive. Set aside a bit of company funds to get something small the manager would appreciate:

• An article of clothing the manager wears a lot (for example, a baseball hat)
• A voucher for the manager's favorite restaurant
• A book the manager has been wanting to read
• Sports tickets for their favorite team
• A spa day or massage

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Nectar Tip: If you decide to pool funds from your manager's team vs. using company funds, ensure everyone feels comfortable contributing. No one should feel pressured to give more than they can afford.

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8. Decorate The Office

Nothing screams a celebration better than balloons and banners. Decorate your boss's office, foyer, or floor with party supplies. As this can take a bit of organization, be prepared to come into work a few minutes early or even prep the office the night before, so everything looks sparkly and pristine when your boss arrives.

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9. Create A Leadership Playlist

Companies on a super tight budget can celebrate their bosses by making and listening to a leadership playlist together. You might add some tunes you know your manager loves, or you could create a collaborative playlist for all team members to contribute a song (Spotify has a great feature that makes these playlists easy).

Are you stuck on what to add? Here are a few of the titles that have great boss energy to them:

• Eye of the Tiger by Survivor: An iconic anthem of perseverance and determination 
• Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey: A song about holding onto your dreams and pushing through challenges 
• We Will Rock You by Queen: A motivational song that energizes teams 
• Roar by Katy Perry: An empowering anthem about finding your voice and strength 
• Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars: An upbeat song that lightens the mood and boosts morale 
• The Best by Tina Turner: The lyrics praise excellence and celebrate leaders 
• Run the World (Girls) by Beyonce: An ideal hit for female bosses ‍
• I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas: A feel-good song that promotes optimism

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10. Make A Sentimental Video 

If you have the time and video editing skills to pull this together, or you can use a tool like Tribute, a montage of videos from your manager's team can strike a chord with the recipient. Ashwin Ramesh, CEO of Synup, beautifully recounts how he felt when his team played him his annual highlights:  

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“The film showcases my late nights at the office, supporting my colleagues during challenging times and celebrating our collective victories. Throughout the video, beautiful quotes were added from team members expressing how my guidance has inspired them to strive for excellence. This was so happy to watch and I got to understand their learning and their approach to feedback and improvisation.

‍‍As the video played, the images of my unwavering commitment, from listening to their ideas to celebrating our achievements together, still reminds me as a happy memory. It wraps up with a simple message: “Thank you for your hard work and dedication.” I appreciate all of them for their efforts and for being part of this journey. Together, we’ve built something special.”

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11. Send Handwritten Notes 

No time to craft something digital? Instead, use good old-fashioned pen and paper and ask employees to write messages from the heart to their bosses. Gauri Manglik, CEO and co-founder of Instrumentl, explains why she enjoyed receiving these surprise notes:  

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“Those heartfelt words meant more to me than any material present. Ultimately, National Boss's Day is about developing relationships, not transactions. A sincere 'thank you' or gesture that shows you notice your boss's efforts can make their day. Though some may see it obligatory, I believe it's an opportunity to strengthen bonds between managers and teams. A little appreciation goes a long way.”

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Nectar Tip: Help your employees overcome writer’s block with some sentence starters, like:

"I appreciate you because..." 
"Thank you for always...".
"My favorite memory of working with you is..." 

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You can also provide them with some colorful stationery or blank cards to make the notes visually appealing.

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12. Donate In Honor Of Your Boss 

Some bosses are uncomfortable with the idea of their employees or the company spending money on them. An alternative is to donate cash to a charity in your boss's name:

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Chief Marketing Officer Rasa Urbonaite outlines how this works at Breezit: 

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“On October 16, we made the decision to support a local animal shelter this year in honor of our boss, who is deeply committed to this cause.

Before the day, we collected donations from the team and presented a check to the shelter in our boss's name. In addition, we created a card that was signed by all of the team members as a way of thanking them for their dedication and leadership.”

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13. Engage In Volunteer Work 

A more hands-on commitment sees team members standing alongside their manager, engaging in some volunteering work together. Ask your boss if there’s a local cause close to their heart, and arrange some PTO for the day to get the whole team involved. 

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David Sides, a PR Strategist at The Gori Law Firm, describes:

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“We used the day to give back to the community. In honor of our bosses, we organized a volunteer event at a local food bank. It was great to see partners and staff working side by side, packing meals for those in need. At the end of the day, we all relaxed and chatted outside of our work roles. It was a nice way to strengthen our team bonds and show appreciation for our leadership.”

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14. Throw A Themed Office Party 

For those in the office, the occasion is a chance to put on a party, however big or small you like. One way to add a fun twist is to add a theme, as experienced by manager Karen Chen at Journaling Supplies: 

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“One year, we held a “Retro Day” where everyone dressed in outfits from their favorite decade. The office was transformed with nostalgic decorations, and we even had a playlist of classic hits. We incorporated activities like trivia games and a “Best Dressed” contest to keep the mood light and engaging.”

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Nectar Tip: Avoid putting pressure on employees to spend money on a costume. Choose a theme that's easy to follow, or that people can make accessories for.

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15. Throw A Gala

At the other end of the scale, companies with generous budgets may opt to host a lavish celebration in honor of their leaders. These events allow team members and their partners to come together over dinner in a fancy venue. This is the approach that BackupVault followed, as described by CEO Rob Stevenson: 

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“Our inaugural Boss’s Day Appreciation Gala was a grand event held in a local upscale venue. The evening began with a formal dinner where employees and executives mingled and enjoyed a gourmet meal. Throughout dinner, we played a video highlighting the achievements and positive impacts of our bosses, featuring testimonials from staff members. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of personalized awards, such as “Outstanding Leadership” and “Innovative Thinker,” each accompanied by a detailed speech that underscored the recipient's contributions and leadership qualities.”

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16. Enjoy A Company-Wide Celebration

The clue is in the name: National Boss's Day is supposed to focus on the manager or managers in charge of one or more teams in your company. But many of these leaders prefer to share the limelight with their fellow employees, indulging in a company-wide celebration that honors the contributions of everyone who works there.

Pradeep Guragain, co-founder of travel company Magical Nepal, describes why this approach works for him:

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“Instead of making me the focus, we celebrate each other, concretizing the idea that each team member is a 'boss' in their own right. We host a celebration featuring traditional Nepalese food, music, and dance. Everyone shares their accomplishments and challenges and learns from each other, strengthening our bond further.

Last year, for example, we organized a hiking trip on this day, an homage to our core business. Each employee led a part of the trek, signifying leadership. It was a memorable day out of the office, which encouraged team members to embrace their 'boss potential'.

In the spirit of inclusivity, we invite our local partners— trekking guides, and homestay owners—to join our celebration. They share their on-ground experiences, providing valuable insights that help us improve our services. This way, Boss's Day becomes an occasion for community engagement, aligning perfectly with our mission of sustainable tourism and local involvement.”

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17. Host A Gratitude Circle 

Another way to involve the entire work community in National Boss's Day is to have everyone recap a story or moment from the year when they felt inspired by their manager's leadership. CEO Kevin Shahnazari describes FinlyWealth as embodying this idea as a Gratitude Circle. 

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"True innovation stems from empowering every voice in the room," is a mantra we live by at FinlyWealth, and our Boss's Day celebration is a testament to this belief. We cap off the day with a "Gratitude Circle," where team members at all levels share specific instances of exceptional leadership they've witnessed throughout the year. This practice fosters a culture of appreciation and highlights leadership at every level of the organization.”

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18. Engage In Reverse Mentoring 

Great bosses acknowledge they don’t know it all. They’re always willing to upskill, adapt to industry trends, and learn from their junior employees. For this reason, Gianluca Ferruggia, General Manager at DesignRush, uses October 16th to commit to reverse-mentoring. Here’s how it works:

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“As the General Manager, I pair up with a younger team member to gain insights from their perspectives, ideas, innovations. This role-reversal session opens up unique learning avenues - a true instance where every day is a school day. The day winds up with a team potluck or dining out, adding the perfect finishing touch of team bonding.”

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19. Create A National Boss’s Day Challenge

Employee challenges incentivize employees to offer much-deserved appreciation to their bosses and reinforce your company's culture of gratitude and respect for leadership.

You might create a National Boss's Day challenge where employees earn points or rewards for acknowledging their boss or leadership team in full view of the organization. Employees can submit stories, notes, or shoutouts about how their manager has positively impacted them. Your employees will earn their reward once they've participated in or completed the challenge.

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20. Award Managers Across Your Company

Another way to make your leadership celebrations visible is to distribute company-wide awards to managers. For example, you might announce nominations and winners of people who’ve shown exceptional leadership, creativity, or innovation. These awards can be serious, like “Best Mentor” or “Innovative Leader,” or they can be more lighthearted, like “Master of Calm Under Pressure.” 

Promote the awards at a team meeting, as part of an internal newsletter, or on your internal employee recognition platform.

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Celebrate Your Managers With Nectar 

Without bosses, your employees would be left without direction, support, or the opportunity to grow. That's where Nectar comes in, offering a suite of tools that makes it easy to celebrate your managers, both on October 16 and throughout the rest of the year. Here are the features that'll slide straight into your celebrations:

• Milestones: Managers will receive celebratory messages on their birthdays and work anniversaries, all automated so no one's special day is forgotten. Attach redeemable Nectar points as a bonus. 
• Recognition: Managers can receive (and give) praise and appreciation from their peers, direct reports, and executives. They'll receive regular shoutouts on Nectar's internal social feed, complete with points, praise, and a hashtag highlighting the core company values they've exhibited. 
• Rewards: Managers can trade their Nectar points for a variety of rewards that are meaningful to them. These include Amazon products, gift cards, charity donations, company swag, and custom rewards. 
• Nominations: Employees can nominate their favorite manager to win a variety of employee awards, such as Boss of the Year, Most Supportive Leader, etc. 
• Challenges: HR departments can create National Boss’s Day challenges which incentivize employees to give gratitude to their leaders. Employees receive redeemable points for participation. 

Ready to share some love on Boss’s Day? Kickstart your celebrations by booking a Nectar demo today.