International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, is a holiday focused on celebrating the working class all over the world. It’s an important holiday that gives us a chance to celebrate the often underappreciated working class.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about International Workers’ Day. From its history and importance to May Day celebration ideas, you’ll be ready to give your employees the appreciation they deserve this Workers’ Day.
What is International Workers’ Day?
International Workers’ Day is also known as May Day. It also goes by International Labor Day, but that tends to be confusing since Labor Day in the US is a separate holiday celebrated on a different day with a similar focus.
Yeah, it’s enough to leave your head spinning if you think about it too much. So, when is May Day? Is it the same thing? Here’s a quick breakdown to set the record straight.
International Workers’ Day (May Day/International Labor Day)
Celebrated: Annually on May 1st.
Origin: Chicago, 1886. Rooted in the Haymarket Affair, during which workers who were striking for an 8-hour workday faced police violence.
Significance: Celebrated worldwide as a day of worker solidarity, protests, and labor rights advocacy.
Observed in: Many countries, including most of Latin America, Europe, and parts of Asia.
Labor Day (aka US Labor Day)
Celebrated: Annually on the first Monday in September.
Origin: Established in 1894 by President Grover Cleveland to honor workers as a less radical alternative to International Workers’ Day.
Significance: Less of a protest and advocacy day than International Workers’ Day—often celebrated as the end of summer with parades and cookouts.
Observed in: The United States and Canada.
The Important History of International Workers’ Day
The history of May Day technically predates its relation to Workers’ Day. Originating from the European Pagan tradition of May Basket Day, it was brought to the US in the 19th century.
It became connected to the labor movement in 1886 when the American Federation of Labor designated May 1st as the date for a nationwide strike. They were fighting for an 8-hour workday, and the strike was an attempt to demand a change in work hours.
In Chicago, labor rights groups and labor activists followed through with the strike. However, things turned violent as police attacked those on strike.
This display of violence continued into the following days, and the event became known as the Haymarket Affair. It’s a landmark event in the history of labor and workers’ rights.
The Birth of May Day
Following these events, the International Socialist Conference labeled May Day as a labor holiday in 1889. Labor groups began celebrating the holiday, and it slowly grew in popularity over the years as people advocated for it to become a federal holiday.
World War II, the Cold War, and the anti-communist and anti-labor attitudes of this era led to the holiday being largely ignored. President Eisenhower designated May 1st “Law Day” (a celebration of the rule of law) instead of a workers’ holiday as a way to shift focus away from the labor movements of the time.
Over time, the holiday gained traction in the US. As Cold War ideas about labor and socialism slowly began to fade, more saw the day as a celebration of the working class, labor rights, and the efforts of labor activists.
May 1st is now a common day for protests, strikes, and other labor-related political events. And now we call it International Workers’ Day!
How Is International Workers’ Day Celebrated?
The US may celebrate Workers’ Day, but we’re not the only ones. It’s celebrated in various countries worldwide in many different ways.
May Day Celebrations: Ideas and Examples From Around the World
Canada celebrates International Workers’ Day by enacting minimum wage increases on May 1st and with other events. For example, in Quebec, May Day is often the date of union and labor-centric protests, demonstrations, and events.
In Chile, International Labor Day is a national holiday. All stores and public services close on May 1st, and the major unions and labor groups organize events. It typically starts with rallies in the morning and ends with parties in the evening.
The list of individual celebrations could go on. International Workers’ Day is celebrated differently in various countries, and each celebration is unique.
That said, they share common themes of honoring labor, the working class, and the contributions of labor activists, unions, and workers’ rights.
Why It’s Important To Acknowledge and Appreciate Employees
Now that we’ve covered the history let’s move on to the present and the many reasons that acknowledging and appreciating employees is essential.
1. Employees Deserve To Be Celebrated
The number one reason that employees should be acknowledged and appreciated is because they deserve it.
Your employees work hard every day to do their jobs and help your organization succeed. Without them, you would have nothing.
Employees are the ones that make your business’ success possible, so they deserve recognition and appreciation for their contributions.
2. Positive Work Culture
Appreciating your employees also helps create a positive work culture, and this benefits everyone at every level of the company.
With a positive work culture, people feel happier, more motivated, more productive, and more engaged. They want to come to work and do their best. There are numerous benefits to a positive work culture. For example:
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- Retention: A 2022 Bonusly survey found that 46% of workers have left a job due to feeling unappreciated. Employees who feel valued and appreciated are more likely to stay with your organization instead of leaving.
- Engagement: People like to have their work recognized, and it can directly improve engagement and motivation. When employees are appreciated for their work, they are more likely to take ownership and do the best job possible.
- Trust: When you build psychological safety at work, your employees trust that they can share their opinions. This increases the benefits of a diverse workplace by introducing new ideas and maintaining transparency.
- Profitability: Research shows that companies with a positive workplace culture have higher average annual returns.
How to Celebrate International Workers’ Day
It’s time for the main event—let’s look at how to celebrate International Workers’ Day! With more focus on the labor movement in recent years, it’s important to celebrate this holiday every year and ensure your employees get the recognition they deserve.
Workers’ Day can be celebrated in many different ways, so don’t be afraid to have some fun and get creative in how you celebrate. Here are some ideas you can try this year.
1. Outdoor Celebrations
Don’t let Labor Day in September steal all the fun in the sun! Nothing beats an outdoor celebration for May Day.
BBQs and picnics are some of the most common ways to celebrate the holiday all over the world. We recommended them for International Workers’ Day 2024, and we’re doing the same this year. Why? Because employees love Spring fun.
Plus, you can make your BBQ or picnic interesting instead of just having another party. This outdoor celebration is a great opportunity for all sorts of events and activities.
Try rewarding your employees with gifts, friendly competition, and team building activities to help them grow and improve their teamwork skills.
For example, why not try one of our Go Team Scavenger Hunts? It’ll be a great opportunity to have some fun and get your employees to let loose, all while bettering their teamwork skills.
2. Volunteer Activities
With its focus on protests and advocacy, you’ll see a lot of volunteering activities for May Day.
Volunteering is a great way to celebrate International Workers’ Day for several reasons. For example, research shows that it provides the following benefits:
- Improves employee engagement and morale
- Boosts collaboration and communication
- Drives recruitment and retention
- Promotes employee development and leadership skills
- Helps people make new friends
- Improves self-esteem
The list could go on, but you get the idea. Time to find out what causes your employees are passionate about, and then get involved!
Do your employees care about climate change? Consider sponsoring a charity raffle for a climate change organization or scheduling our Do Good Bus event with a focus on the environment.
3. Wellness Opportunities
Employee wellness and mental health have become big talking points in recent years, and for good reason. Employees should be able to have normal and healthy lives in and outside of work.
Celebrating Workers’ Day by focusing on employee wellness is a fantastic way to show that you care about your employees. Consider seminars or events that focus on wellness and mental health, like our Laughter Yoga event.
4. Fun Team Building Games
Another way to celebrate Workers’ Day is by giving your team a break from the daily grind with some fun team building activities. They’ll get to have fun with coworkers, and you get to rest easy knowing that they’re also improving skills and teamwork.
Our mystery bus event is a perfect choice for Workers’ Day. Your employees get to have a fun experience traveling around your city of choice, solving mysteries, and learning new things. And you get to build their skills as a team!
Check out our most popular activities for fun team building game ideas.
5. Virtual Celebrations
Your team may be scattered across the country or even the globe, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring them all together for a Workers’ Day celebration. There are tons of virtual and hybrid events you can use to celebrate your employees and develop their skills, no matter where they are located.
Virtual team building offers fantastic benefits, just like in-person events. Plus, activities like our Virtual Happy Hour & Mixology Class do a great job of uniting in-person and virtual attendees, which improves teamwork in hybrid offices.
6. Give a Gift to Employees
This one’s a tried and true classic—giving a gift to your employees is one of the most direct ways you can show your support and appreciation. Whether it’s gift cards to local businesses, custom jackets, or an extra day off, thoughtful gifts can go a long way.
That said, don’t let a gift be your only way to celebrate Workers’ Day! Pair it with a team building activity to get everyone engaged and show them how much you value their hard work.
Celebrate Your Employees on International Workers’ Day
Workers have dedicated their time and effort to their jobs for centuries. Over the years, they’ve fought for their rights and for better standards in the workplace, helping eliminate child labor, giving us the 5-day work week, 8-hour work days, and much more.
So, this International Workers’ Day, take the time to celebrate your employees and all of their hard work!
Besides being the right thing to do, it can help boost motivation, engagement, retention, and even your bottom line.
Are you ready to give your employees the appreciation they deserve? We have a huge selection of events that are perfect for International Workers’ Day.
Contact TeamBonding today and let us help you plan a celebration they won’t quit talking about.
