Gruntled Workers Day falls on July 13 this year and, contrary to what the word might convey, it was founded to celebrate all that is positive about one’s work or job. If Friday nights are your night to get together with pals or co-workers, go to a bar, and vent about your job, Gruntled Workers Day is for you, as it can spur you on to reflect on your work and make meaning out of it for yourself. If there’s absolutely nothing to like, why not take a bold step and change something? In a world with growing dissent and job dissatisfaction, Gruntled Workers Day can serve as a powerful reminder that all work has meaning and purpose to it, and so much of the fulfillment we can find in our work is actually a choice! Not only can we see our work in a more positive light, but we can also spread that positivity by appreciating the work or services of any other worker or service provider. A simple ‘thank you’ for something specific, and ‘have a nice day’ can go a long way in making someone’s day.
Never heard the word ‘gruntled’ before? That’s because founders Thomas and Ruth Roy, of Wellcat Holidays, made it up! The couple has been responsible for creating and copywriting more than 70 quirky holidays ever since the late 1980s when Thomas Roy first looked through a copy of “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and saw a form at the back that allowed for submission of ‘new holidays.’ Deciding to have some fun, he came up with ‘Northern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day’ and was surprised to see it included in “Chase’s” the very next year. Thus a ‘holiday-maker’ was born and, together with their son Michael, the couple started their own holiday website.
Though the exact date when Gruntled Workers Day was first celebrated is hard to pinpoint, the day has been celebrated annually for several years now. Back in the 1930s, the term ‘gruntled’ was used jokingly by people when it was discovered that the word ‘disgruntled’ did not have an antonym. Now, thanks to Thomas and Ruth Roy, the word has become more widespread and we especially love the idea behind the day — getting together and chatting about the aspects of our work that bring us happiness or contentment, as well as cheering others on for doing their jobs well. The challenge that all workers of every kind need to face at least once in their lifetime is to either figure out how to improve their work environments for themselves or to make the decision to find something new that will bring them a better sense of fulfillment and enjoyment.
