Celebrating labour on International Labour Day or May Day on May 1 seems very appropriate. Labour is a lot of hard work and often leads to success. So, why nor celebrate the hard work a team has put in, for it will definitely spur them on to greater achievements.
What is the history behind this day? May 1 is observed as International Labour Day in several countries – to commemorate the labour movement which ushered in various reforms like – capping the work hours at eight and paid leaves too. In India, Labour Day is referred to in many ways such as Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas or Kamgar Din. Labour Day is also known as Eight Hours Day in Tasmania; and May Day commemorates the granting of the eight-hour working day for Australians.
Incidentally, International Labour Day is an official public holiday in many countries around the globe – to honour the contributions of labourers or working class people. May 1 or May Day is marked in countries such as India, People’s Republic of China, North Korea, Cuba, and the former Soviet Union.
May Day in India
Labour Day indeed, has varying backgrounds. It has a different origin story for different countries but, the main highlight is commemorating a firm stand taken against exploitation of the labour class or the working class population.
Tracing history, it was on May 1, 1923 that the first celebration of May Day in India was organised in Chennai by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan. And, most relevant is the fact that this was also the time when the Red Flag which symbolises Labour Day, was first used in India. This day is linked to labour movements for communist and socialist political parties. Besides it is known under different names in India. Besides being known as ‘Kamgar Din’ or ‘Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas’ in Hindi, it is known as ‘Kamgar Divas’ in Marathi and ‘Uzhaipalar Naal’ in Tamil.
Interestingly, apart from being Labour Day, May 1 is also marked as ‘Maharashtra Day’ and ‘Gujarat Day’ to mark the date in 1960, when these two states in western India attained statehood.
The importance of celebrating teamwork
Why is it important to celebrate the success of teamwork? Team members or employees who are happy in their jobs, actually look forward to coming to work everyday. They will perform better, leading to better success for the company. By celebrating employees’ wins as a team, any business can help employees gain meaning and motivation from their work, which trickles down to the results they drive. Entrepreneurs can definitely use this to their advantage.
Why is celebration important? Celebrations actually boost our well-being. And this is true for achieving both major milestones and daily wins too. One of the main reasons why celebrating is so important, is because of the fact that it is indeed very positive. It reflects an overall attitude of gratitude and enjoying what we have, instead of focusing on what we don’t have or only on what we want in the future.
So, celebrating the team’s hard work can add many plus points to an organization’s profile. Here are some:
- Adds to team-building: The celebration helps create a sense of team unity, particularly if you are celebrating a team’s accomplishment. It brings the team members together, united by one purpose. For instance, it gives the team a chance to bond and think over the successes. Plus personal connections may help the employees work together better on future projects.
- Boosts morale: Employee morale often gets a boost when the team is given recognition through workplace celebrations. This feeling of appreciation helps employees improve their attitude about the job. Providing an enjoyable break from the regular routine can act as an additional morale booster. When the morale is high at the office, your team is more likely to work efficiently and stay with the company.
- Motivates team: Workplace celebration motivates employees. Being recognized personally encourages a team to continue working hard. And, a break from the monotony of the ordinary workday helps recharge a team, so that they are more focused and better geared to tackle all kind of work projects.
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
