This nationally recognized day is relatively new. In 1995, Bob Nelson, a founding Recognition Professional International board member, together with his publishing company, Workman Publishing, created National Employee Appreciation Day.

It began, perhaps, as a response to Boss’s Day, where employees were reminded of the importance of recognizing and appreciating all their bosses have done for them. In turn, it became necessary to encourage recognition of both sides of this very important equation. It is often too easy to forget that your employees are some of the most important assets your company can has.

We underestimate all the things they do for us, not just within the scope of their jobs, but above and beyond the scope of their jobs in keeping business running smoothly. It doesn’t matter whether your employees are part of a manufacturing facility, or merely work the phone all day handling billing and customer complaints, your business could not operate without them.

There’s an old saying that goes: An office can operate without a boss for a day, but not without a receptionist , and that certainly stands as a clear reminder of all that employees do, and just how important they can be to our businesses.

{Excerpted from ‘Days of the Year’ online}