Did you know that April always starts on the same day of the week as July and always ends on the same day of the week as December? April was also the second month of the year until January and February were added around 700 B.C. One explanation of the origin of the word “April” comes from the Latin verb aperire, which means “to open” in reference to the trees and flowers opening for spring.
And while these April factoids will do little more than beef up your trivia skills, here are five things to do this month that may have a bigger impact on you and your team.
Stress Awareness Month
From absenteeism and lost productivity to turnover and increased medical costs, some estimates show that job stress costs businesses more than $300 billion each year. Help ease some of the tension in your workplace by focusing on and encouraging healthy working conditions. Consider implementing stress-awareness programs or encouraging your employees to take action to address their own stress levels. A healthy, stress-free workplace is a productive workplace.
National Poetry Month
Build worker morale;
An office Haiku contest!
Winners get prizes.
…we’ll stick to our day jobs and leave the poetry to the pros.
Golfer’s Day (April 10)
April is a great month to be a golfer. The weather has reached that magical point between winter and summer when most office dwellers dread the thought of being locked inside from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. So, to help your employees get outside for a much needed dose of Vitamin D, try planning a company golf outing. And, be sure to draw names for teams to encourage interaction among workers outside their normal groups.
Earth Day (April 22)
Adopted by the United Nations in 2009, Earth Day is a worldwide celebration of our planet and a day to show your support for environmental protection initiatives. Coordinated by the Earth Day Network, more than 192 countries recognize Earth Day as they strive to make the world a better place to live. Get into the spirit in your office by organizing a community clean-up project, planting trees in a local park, or starting a company-wide recycling program. There are many ways to get involved and it’s a great way to motivate your team to work together for a common goal.
Administrative Professional’s Day (April 24)
Administrative Professional’s Day is set aside each year to show appreciation to those who truly keep businesses running. Formerly known as Secretaries Day, this unofficial holiday was created in the early 1950s and has grown over the years to include daily support personnel at all levels of business. So, be sure to thank your administrative professionals for their hard work by taking them out to lunch or giving them a small gift to show your appreciation.
What are you doing in the month of April? How will you boost morale, encourage employees to be stress free, or inspire creativity? Let us know in the comments section below.
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