National Boss Day 2005

National Boss Day 2005 -- Hallmark Press Room

TRENDS • Greeting cards have become a workplace communication staple, and one of the most important relationships is that between supervisor and worker at every level from CEO to president, manager or supervisor – whoever is the “boss” in a reporting structure. • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 37.7 million individuals are employed in management, professional and related occupations. • Women held half of management, professional and related positions in 2004, compared to 40 percent in 1983, according to Hallmark Research and the U.S. Department of Labor, indicating a clear trend toward more women in supervisory roles. • New and expanding relationships are prevalent in the workplace – mentoring (both formal and informal), permanent work teams, project teams, and cross-departmental and cross-divisional teams. • Today’s managers are less likely to be telling subordinates what to do and how to do it, and more likely to be responsible for developing the skills and decision-making capabilities of those who report to them. “The boss” often is both coach and a member of the work team. • Downsizing in recent years means more responsibility for fewer managers. Managers today typically have more employees reporting to them than in the past and less administrative support, while they are expected to be more productive. • Workplace surveys confirm that one of the most important elements of job satisfaction is a positive relationship between boss and worker. WHEN National Boss Day is always Oct. 16. In 2005, National Boss Day falls on a Sunday, leading many to honor their bosses on the Friday before, Oct. 14, or the Monday after, Oct. 17. WHAT National Boss Day offers employees an opportunity to recognize those in supervisory positions. The official name of the holiday is “National Boss Day,” but it is commonly referred to as “Boss’s Day” in conversation and in some greeting cards. CELEBRATION Popular ways to say “thanks” include cards, lunch in the boss’s honor, a “goodie” break, flowers, gift certificates, gifts and gatherings. Cards, flowers and gifts displayed throughout the week serve as reminders of the important relationship between boss and worker. HALLMARK CARDS REFLECT SPECIFIC RELATIONSHIPS Hallmark offers 47 Boss’s Day card designs for 2005, including five Shoebox cards. Many Boss’s Day cards express appreciation for how well a boss manages people, respect for the way they handle tough workloads, and gratitude for the coaching they provide. Reflecting the differences in bosses’ personalities and the types of relationships with their staffs, the cards range from professional to humorous. Some cards even go for good-natured laughs at the boss’s expense, typically followed by a complimentary quip. Designs and messages appropriate for both male and female bosses are available, as are cards for a work group to collectively present to the boss. An oversized 9-by12-inch “from all of us” card has lots of smiling faces, some of which move when the $6.99 card is opened. Two Boss’s Day greeting cards are specially designed to hold a gift card. Gift-card holders are becoming an increasingly popular way to give gifts. Hallmark.com offers a selection of humorous and heartfelt free e-cards. Card senders can add a personal message to the greeting on the e-card and send it immediately or on any designated date. Hallmark.com also offers six National Boss Day paper cards and a personalization service. Consumers can add their personal message to the greeting on the card. Paper cards can be mailed to the buyer or the card recipient on any designated date. BOSS'S DAY GIFT IDEAS FROM HALLMARK Hallmark offers several gift ideas and tailored desktop mementos that serve as reminders that a boss is appreciated more than one day a year: * Elegant Harley-Davidson™ desk accessories in rich woods, blacks and metals, feature the Harley-Davidson logo and vintage bikes. * For nature lovers, gifts from Nature’s Sketchbook by Marjolein Bastin bring the beauty and serenity of nature to the office on items such as a calendar and weekly planner. * Hallmark’s classic Leather Collection offers a wide variety of options for busy executives including leather frames, photo envelopes perfect to slip in a brief case, and small snapshot books perfect for keeping photos of loved ones close by. * Two items from the new Instant Scrapbook line – “A Tribute to Him” and “A Tribute to Her” provide an easy way to recognize the boss. Just add photos, and it’s done. * Hallmark Chocolatier boxed chocolates have four styles ranging in price from $2.50 (2 oz) to $15 (16 oz). A wide selection of thoughtful Hallmark gifts and flowers for the boss are available at Hallmark.com. BACKGROUND & HISTORY National Boss Day began in 1958 when Patricia Bays Haroski, then an employee at State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Ill., registered the holiday with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Haroski’s purpose was to designate a day to show appreciation for her boss and other bosses. She also hoped to improve the relationship between employees and supervisors. She believed young employees often do not realize the challenges bosses face in running a business. Ms. Haroski chose Oct. 16, her father’s birthday, as the date for National Boss Day because she felt he was an exemplary boss. National Boss Day has become an international celebration in recent years and now is observed in countries such as England, Australia and South Africa. Hallmark first made National Boss Day cards in 1979.

del.icio.us Tags: National-Boss-Day Hallmark