With peer recognition firmly in place, milestones sufficiently celebrated, and Employee Appreciation Day plans booked, there’s just one more detail to cover. National Boss’s Day is a perfect fit for company cultures that include various forms of recognition.
Management and other leaders have a massive influence on how employees feel about their workplace. This one official date is a convenient way to thank leaders for being positive, supportive, or just generally nice to work with.
Today, we’ll share several meaningful and lighthearted ways to recognize managers, with quick tips for making National Boss’s Day a success.
When is National Boss Day?
National Boss Day, or National Boss’s Day, is always on October 16th. In 2025, it falls on a Thursday. That’s a peak productivity day, so let’s make this year’s celebration snappy.
It’s observed on this day in the United States, Australia, India, and some other countries. Organizations anywhere in the world can participate, of course, or choose their own special date.
Did you know?
This holiday was first officially registered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1958. An employee founded it! Patricia Haroski was a secretary with State Farm Insurance and felt her boss deserved extra-special recognition, so she chose his birthday, October 16th, as the holiday. Talk about managing up, right?
Not exactly; her boss was also her father. So it’s okay if you decide to celebrate with a little less fanfare than Patricia.
Why should you celebrate National Boss’s Day?
Employees shouldn’t feel pressured to make a big deal of National Boss’s Day. However, if you’re building or maintaining a culture of recognition, some reciprocity can be a great fit.
National Boss’s Day can:
- Give employees a chance to reflect on their manager’s strengths.
- Recognize any extra effort a leader has put in to support teams.
- Build stronger bonds within an organization, retaining good managers that employees enjoy working with.
Easy, collaborative ideas for celebrating National Boss Day 2025
As we’ll mention later on in this post, a “from all of us” celebration is more appropriate than leaving it up to employees. Here are some thoughtful–but not over-the-top–ways to acknowledge the day.
1. Donuts, anyone?
For in-office teams, the easiest solution is to put a boss-approved treat where everyone can partake.
Some simple signage, “Happy Boss’s Day!” informs everyone what the occasion is. They can verbally wish leadership a happy day (or they can just sneak two jelly donuts back to their desk–no pressure).
2. Create a cool custom card from the whole crew
Design a card (virtual or physical) that incorporates company themes or inside jokes. If you’re dealing with smaller teams who express interest in celebrating the day, offer the chance to sign the card. If not, a “from all of us here” will suffice.
3. Send a small, relevant gift
Manager into Marvel movies? Department head a dancer? A thoughtful, on-theme trinket for their desk won’t break the budget. Coffee mugs are also a traditional, useful offering for National Boss Day.
⚠️: If the company doesn’t give employees physical gifts for any occasion, don’t do it for bosses, either.
4. Share your best memes and GIFs in the team chat
Cultures where teams have an easygoing, humorous rapport with their managers can celebrate in chat. Just ensure that, like employee anniversary memes and GIFs, everyone’s aware of what’s appropriate.
5. Donate to a cause that matters to them
Employees like participating in charitable initiatives (think Tacos for Charity) when they steer the ship. If there’s a cause important to management that they’d like to choose for their next initiative, they can do so.
However, you can also use a small budget to make a one-time contribution in a boss’s honor. It can be personally meaningful to them and
6. Make a post on social media
Public shoutouts are a mainstay in employee recognition. They allow the honoree a moment center-stage to bask in everyone’s attention. If your organization has any active social media accounts, post about National Boss Day, highlighting those leaders who work closest to the team.
7. Give them a paper plate award
Is your boss the Meeting Master, Captain Feedback, or the Queen of Keeping It Real? On Boss’s Day, give them a lighthearted paper plate award that acknowledges their strengths.
Tips for celebrating National Boss Day
National Bosses Day can be slightly controversial. After all, employees aren’t responsible for their leaders’ job satisfaction (it’s the other way around!). That’s why HR should handle celebrations and arrange any gifts. Some points to keep in mind:
- Like other forms of recognition, any celebration should make sense to the company culture. This prevents it from feeling forced, or worse, more important than employee recognition.
- Simple and modest is best. In most instances, you won’t need to do any complex planning or big spending.
- Participation encouraged, not compulsory. If you have a celebratory idea and employees aren’t expressing a lot of willingness to join in, let it go. Choose something like a small gift or “from us” card they won’t need to worry about.
- Every department is different. Some teams collaborate a lot, enjoy more camaraderie, and might want to celebrate their lead. While company acknowledgment should be consistent across department heads, that doesn’t mean employees in every department need to follow suit.
- At the same time, set expectations. If employees want to participate, discourage them from buying lavish gifts on their own. Put the kibosh on anyone making gestures that could be seen as attempts to curry favor or foster relationships that are closer than others.
The bottom line on celebrating your Top Taco
Engagement and retention are still important as we move up the ladder. National Boss’s Day is a predetermined, designated date to recognize good managers and other leaders. Keeping it small and genuine is a sure way to make them feel seen and appreciated without placing extra demands on employees.
FAQ: National Boss’s Day 2025
Q: When is National Boss’s Day in 2025?
A: National Boss’s Day is observed every year on October 16. In 2025, it falls on a Thursday — making it a good mid-week opportunity to recognize managers without disrupting productivity.
Q: Should companies celebrate National Boss’s Day?
A: Celebrating is optional, but it can be a great fit for organizations that value recognition. It’s less about gifts and more about acknowledging managers’ support, leadership, and positive influence on workplace culture. Simple, modest celebrations are best.
Q: What are some easy ideas for National Boss’s Day?
A: A few lighthearted options include:
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Bringing in treats like donuts for the whole office
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Creating a fun, team-signed card
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Sharing memes and GIFs in chat
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Donating to a cause important to leadership
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Posting a public shoutout on social media
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Giving a humorous “paper plate award”
Q: What should we avoid when celebrating Boss’s Day?
A: Avoid over-the-top gifts, forced participation, or anything that makes employees feel pressured. Boss’s Day is most effective when it’s simple, inclusive, and consistent with the company’s existing recognition culture.
Q: Is National Boss’s Day only celebrated in the United States?
A: While it started in the U.S. in 1958, National Boss’s Day is also recognized in countries like Australia and India. Any organization worldwide can choose to observe it, or pick their own special day to appreciate leaders.
