New celebrations for a new year. Start January off right by having some fun with your coworkers.
Monday, Jan. 1, 2024
New Year's Day marks the start of the new year in the Gregorian calendar, used by most countries globally.
The day has become synonymous with resolutions and fresh starts (and college football games!)
Julius Caesar instituted the Julian calendar in 45 B.C. It’s believed to be the first calendar to recognize Jan. 1 as the beginning of a new year. However, that calendar was still oriented around the lunar phases.
It would be another 1,500 years before Pope Gregory XII introduced the Gregorian calendar, which aligned our calendar year with the Earth’s 365-ish day orbit around the sun.
Create a digital or physical whiteboard where employees can post their professional and personal goals for the new year. Use the information to plan out a professional development program. Encourage the team to support each other’s goals throughout the year.
This is also a good time of year to start wellness programs for your office. For example, you could Issue a step-count challenge, or offer healthy eating workshops during the work day. Or give employees a gift card they can use toward fitness equipment, a meal delivery subscription, or a gym membership.
January 15, 2024
The idea of commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. with a national holiday began shortly after his 1968 assassination.
Though Congress initially voted against the idea, proponents persisted. Labor unions negotiated for the holiday as part of their labor contracts, six million people signed a national petition, and Stevie Wonder released a popular single promoting the holiday titled “Happy Birthday”.
The first official celebration was on Jan. 20, 1986. The day has become a symbol of King's enduring legacy in the fight against racial injustice.
This is a great opportunity to organize company-wide volunteer activities supporting local communities or charities, which reflects King's values of service and community.
Internally, you can also facilitate team discussions or round-tables on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Finally, as a company, consider contributing to charities or organizations that work towards racial equality and social justice.
January 8, 2024
National Clean Your Desk Day dates back to Anne Chase Moeller, who shared a cluttered office with her father, the publisher of the Chase's Calendar of Events. Tired of the constant mess, Anne would often cover her father's chaotic desk with a cloth just to find space to work.
In 1982, in a fit of exasperation, she registered the second Monday in January as a national holiday to goad the old man into at least tidying up once a year.
This day has since evolved into a reminder for everyone to start the year with a clean, organized, and efficient workspace.
Make this chore a fun team activity with light-hearted competitions like 'Most Creative Organizer' or 'Best Desk Transformation.' Consider giving the winner a gift card to upgrade their work station. For remote teams, employees can share before-and-after pictures of their home office setups.
Extend the concept to digital workspaces by encouraging employees to organize digital files, clear unnecessary emails, and declutter their desktops.
January 28, 2024
Data Privacy Day traces its roots back to 2006 when the Council of Europe initiated the first Data Protection Day. By 2008, the concept had crossed the Atlantic, making its debut in the United States. Congress adopted Senate Resolution 33 in 2014 and officially declared Jan. 28 as National Data Privacy Day.
The day serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting personal information and raises awareness about privacy and data protection best practices.
Use this day as an opportunity to review and update your company’s data privacy policies and procedures. Enlist your IT team to show employees how they can conduct privacy assessments of their workspaces and digital tools.
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