Each year, mothers are celebrated around the world on Mother’s Day, the second Sunday in May. Some people celebrate with brunches, open presents, make phone calls, send gifs, not to mention sharing pictures on social media; others observe the day with reflection and remembrance. Regardless how you is recognize the day, it is a day that touches everyone. Afterall, we all have some connection to motherhood.
History of Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day celebrations actually predate the commemoration in the US. In West Virginia, in 1907, Anna Jarvis held the first Mother’s Day service in her church after her mother died. Anna’s mother had been an activist during the Civil War helping soldiers on both sides of the conflict. She and others formed “Mother’s Day for Peace,” where mothers would ask that their sons and husbands would no longer be killed in wars. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation to designate the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor mothers.
Honoring Mothers in the Workplace
Additionally, finding ways to help staff honor Mother’s Day in the workplace can help bring some humanity to work, which often can be overshadowed by transactions and other measures of performance. Looking for ways to honor mothers in your place of work? Here are some ideas:
- Consider shortening the workday on Friday before Mother’s Day to give people time to enjoy a longer weekend. Then send them off with a “Go celebrate your mom!” message.
- Offer a personal day to women who experience grief or difficulty on Mother’s Day
- Celebrate new and older mothers in your organization with cards, gift certificates, or even a cake and tea social.
- Sponsor a picnic for all staff and their families.
- Order flowers to be delivered to all the mothers in your office.
- Take a vote for your favorite family-themed movie and have a watch party.
- Have a potluck and ask everyone to bring in their favorite dish their mother makes.
- Solicit ideas of how the organization can do more to support working mothers.
Women make up about half of the workforce, and seven out of ten working mothers have children under the age of 18. It can be hard to find balance between family and work. Taking a little bit of time to show appreciation from the organization can help with morale, reduce a bit of stress, and bring people together under one of the most common themes –Mothers!
If your organization could use some help with your culture and workforce, FIT HR would love to help. It’s what we do.