When I was young, I would occasionally recognize the ads for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and even Grandparents’ Day. I would ask my mom when “Kids’ Day” was. She would always reply (without hesitation), “Kids’ Day is everyday.”
I thought of that when I opened my email this morning and was met with this message from FTD Florists:
Greetings John,
For the great leader in your life – let them know how much they are appreciated.
I didn’t wake up in North Korea did I?
The holiday that they are pitching is for something absurd called Bosses’ Day and Bosses Week (next week). Apparently, Secretaries (or Administrative Assistants) deserve one day, but the Bosses get a whole week. Perhaps they deserve a national holiday, the poor dears, so that they feel appreciated in our society.
Could Hallmark and FTD (a co-operative by the way) develop up a more demeaning holiday without completely leaving the realm of decency? As my mom might say, “Bosses’s Day is everyday.”
I am somebodies’ boss, leader, whatever, and I find this celebration offensive. And whole week of managerial self-absorption. This is BS. There is work to be done, and as a leader you are only as good as the performance of those working with you. A good boss gives their job away so that the people working for them find their boss less and less necessary as they gain skill and knowledge.