Updated September 2022
If there’s an activity you enjoy or something you celebrate, chances are there’s a national holiday for it!
Many of these national days have become known as social media holidays, generating a tsunami of content from both individuals and companies to get in on the conversation. These social media holidays can also present practitioners with a prime opportunity to bring awareness to your employer brand, liven up your Recruitment Marketing content and encourage employee engagement.
In addition, social media can be a highly visible way to showcase your company’s support for important months and days of recognition such as Black History Month and International Women’s Day. Whether it’s showcasing your company culture, expressing appreciation for your employees or celebrating the achievements of your team, your customers or your community, social media can help communicate your company’s values and your brand’s personality.
Here’s a comprehensive list of national days and months in 2022 you can use to highlight your employees and workplace culture. You can also check out National Today to find exact dates (as some change each year) and even more holidays to celebrate:
January
National Mentoring Month
January is the month for shining the spotlight on the mentoring opportunities your company provides. Ask employees to share how their mentors in the workplace have helped them grow in their careers and encouraged them in their professional journey.
January 6: National Technology Day
Tech talent is in higher demand than ever, and National Technology Day is an opportunity to win their attention by advertising the technology in use and in development at your company. You can also promote specific individuals making technological strides to show tech talent the opportunities they can expect in working for you.
A post from Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm, on National Technology day detailing how they enrich the human experience with technology.
January 10: National Clean Out Your Desk Day
This holiday can be used to highlight your employees’ workspaces and show how they bring a touch of personality to your office environment.
January 20: Get To Know Your Customers Day
Celebrating Get to Know Your Customers Day, which is observed annually on the third Thursday of each quarter, can benefit both customers and candidates alike. Reaching out to customers to feature can help you learn their pain points and improve your products. Plus, in seeing these posts, candidates can better understand the kinds of companies and people they’d be contributing to by joining your team.
January 28: National Fun at Work Day
Showing the fun side of your culture on the last Friday in January can be a key talent attraction strategy. You can even get employees in on it by asking them to share their own fun-inspired content.
Gartner highlighted their friendly pet co-workers in the remote office for #NationalFunAtWorkDay.
February
Black History Month
February is about celebrating the achievements, history and culture of African Americans. Show that your organization is committed to creating a diverse workplace by sharing stories, highlights and insight from your African American employees.
Proudly, we amplify the voices of those whose experiences motivated their present actions to build a better future for generations to come. We do this – not just because this is #BlackHistoryMonth but because change is happening, and Black History is now. https://t.co/aPcsfhRcys pic.twitter.com/qrqauzWOtX
— Microsoft (@Microsoft) February 1, 2021
Microsoft used its blog to amplify the stories of its Black employees and highlight those who are making their mark within their company and industry.
Rally Note: Check out our blog How Employers Are Celebrating Black History Month for even more ideas and inspiration.
February 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
If your company is in the scientific field, celebrate this holiday by sharing the stories of your female-identifying employees. Candidates who see the exciting things they are doing will be interested to check out your opportunities.
Feeling inspired by these brilliant, fearless women in #STEM who are changing the world through their contributions in science and technology while paving the way for the next generation. ❤️
Here’s their take: https://t.co/TqTTKGA3b7#InternationalWomenandGirlsinSTEMDay
— Justina Nixon-Saintil (@JustinaNixon) February 11, 2021
IBM wrote a blog highlighting a few of our IBM women leaders in technical roles to share their experiences and advice for the next generation.
February 11: Inventors Day
Do you have plenty of creative or tech roles to fill? Is innovation a pillar of your EVP? Then Inventors Day deserves a spot in your social media calendar! The day honors inventors of the past, the creators of the present and encourages the architects of the future. You can frame this within the context of your company, highlighting feats of innovation by individuals and teams across your company to encourage other, like-minded individuals to apply.
View this post on Instagram
Telecoms company Orange Belgium celebrated Inventors Day by sharing a post about the progress they’ve made towards their new solar car.
February 20: World Day of Social Justice
Today’s care about employers’ social stances more than ever before. That’s why World Day of Social Justice is a great opportunity to make your stances known on issues important to you and your company.
March
March 4: National Employee Appreciation Day
Celebrated on the first Friday in March, this holiday is your time to express how grateful you are for the value your employees provide! Highlight how you’re showing your appreciation with special events, recognition programs or other initiatives.
In honor of #EmployeeAppreciationDay, our leadership team delivered goodie bags to our 275 front-line employees to show our appreciation for all their outstanding hard work and dedication to our students this year. We cannot say thank you enough for everything they do! @Aramark pic.twitter.com/UhiorHjnL8
— RRISD Food Services (@FoodRRISD) May 4, 2021
RRISD Food Services delivered goodie bags to their frontline workers to show their appreciation and say thank you. Small things can go a long way!
March 4-5 National Day of Unplugging
Work-life balance continues to grow as a deciding factor for candidates deciding between employers. National Day of Unplugging, which promotes a 24-hour respite from technology every year the first weekend in March, is a chance to convey to candidates the kind of healthy balance they can expect in working for you.
*sets out of office* #NationalDayofUnplugging pic.twitter.com/Bq2TapjLSg
— Ram Trucks (@RamTrucks) March 5, 2021
Ram’s post on National Day of Unplugging, encouraging workers to step out of the office and hit the road.
March 8: International Women’s Day
This is the day to celebrate the women at your company and their achievements! March is also National Women’s Month, so it’s the perfect time to highlight these employees and show that you are dedicated to providing an inclusive workplace for everyone.
Appian featured women employees in a video sharing their career journeys and advice for #InternationalWomensDay.
Rally note: Looking for more ways to celebrate? Read our blog 5 Ways Companies Are Celebrating International Women’s Day 2021.
March 20: World Storytelling Day
World Storytelling Day celebrates the tradition of oral storytelling and encourages participants to tell and listen to stories from different cultures and in different languages. We all know the importance of employee stories when it comes to building an authentic employer brand, so this is a great opportunity to highlight some of your organization’s top employee stories.
April
International Intern Awareness Month
Internships are an excellent way for students to gain real-world career experience, and they provide companies with great talent! Throughout April, showcase your internship opportunities and the interns who work for you, especially if they end up becoming full-time employees.
Stress Awareness Month
Reducing stress in the workplace can be a top strategy for boosting employee satisfaction and retention. If you provide stress-relief programs or tools for your employees, highlight them to show this side of your culture. This could be yoga breaks, relaxation rooms, flexible work options or other types of initiatives to help your workforce better manage stress.
April 16: National Stress Awareness Day
Mental health and wellness has become increasingly important in the workplace, and in particular, managing stress to avoid burnout is an area many HR practitioners are zeroed in on. Simply acknowledging that on National Stress Awareness Day and sharing what you’re doing to alleviate this stress can go a long way in attracting candidates to want to join your team.
A quote from Teuila Hanson, LinkedIn’s Chief People Officer, about LinkedIn’s decision to give employees a paid week off during April to avoid burnout.
April 22: Earth Day
Today’s candidates and people alike have environmental preservation at the top of their priority lists. If protecting the environment plays a big part in your company’s culture, Earth Day is the day to promote that and get the attention of talent wanting to make a positive change.
IKEA Retail U.S. co-workers and our youngest sustainability advocates — their children — share what Earth Day means to them, the sustainable actions they practice every day and a few of the ways IKEA works to create a better future for generations to come.
April 27: National Administrative Professionals Day
Administrative professionals keep offices running smoothly, so take this opportunity to thank them! In fact, there are national days for a wide range of professions that you can use to show your appreciation for employee career areas. Here are a few:
- January 9th: National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
- January 12th: National Pharmacist Day
- March 30th: National Doctors Day
- May 6th: National Nurses Day
- May 21st: National Waitstaff Day
- September 21st: National IT Professionals Day
- October 2nd: National Custodian Day
- October 23rd: National Paralegal Day
- December 12th: National Salesperson Day
Shining the spotlight on these employees can also help you recruit for these positions! When recognizing these professionals, include a link to the job description to encourage candidates to find out more and apply.
May
Global Employee Health & Fitness Month
Healthier employees are happier and more productive, and focusing on the health and fitness of your workforce can generate candidate interest from those looking for this important job factor. Activities like walking groups or perks like gym membership discounts are great for promoting and drawing in job seekers.
May 1: International Workers Day
High-volume hiring has become a challenge during the pandemic, especially for laborers and the working class. Celebrating these workers on International Workers Day, and showing the measures you’re taking to keep them safe and motivated, can go a long way in encouraging more applications.
May 6: National Nurses Day
National Nurses Week begins May 6th and ends on May 12th, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is celebrated, among many other things, as the founder of modern nursing. Whether you have healthcare-related hiring needs or not, National Nurses Day is an easy way to show your support for the heroes who have worked and continue to work tirelessly through the pandemic.
A post from biopharmaceutical company Biocon expressing their gratitude to all of the nurses working through the pandemic.
May 21th: National Armed Forces Day
It’s important to celebrate those who serve in our armed forces, and you can use this holiday to feature your company’s employees who are serving or have served. This day also gives you a chance to reach and recruit veteran candidates who can make significant contributions to your organization.
May 30: National Creativity Day
Take full advantage of the creative work coming from your employees by putting it on display in celebration of National Creativity Day! It shines a light on the creative individuals at your company and makes it easier for creative talent to envision themselves aboard your team.
In honor of #NationalCreativityDay, Ice Theatre of New York, Inc. shared footage of one of their company members ice skating, and encouraged people to share their creative pastimes in the comments.
June
Pride Month
June is about celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and the contributions they make to our society, including in the workplace. Share content throughout the month to demonstrate your company’s commitment to providing an inclusive and welcoming work environment for them.
View this post on Instagram
HubSpot featured employees on their LGBTQ+ alliance leadership council during Pride month through Instagram takeovers.
Rally note: If you’re looking for more Pride content inspiration you can leverage in your social recruiting strategy, check out our blog 7 Exemplary Approaches to Pride Content.
June 2: Leave The Office Early Day
Founded by employee productivity expert Laura Stack in 2004 to raise awareness of the benefits of a healthy work-life balance, Leave the Office Early Day is another opportunity to show what you’re doing to avoid burnout. One way to celebrate is to share videos or photos of your employees enjoying their extra time off!
A video from digital marketing and website development agency DigiDir celebrating Leave the Office Early Day.
June 19: Juneteenth
Juneteenth is an annual observance on June 19 to remember when Union soldiers enforced the Emancipation Proclamation and freed all remaining slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865. This day is an opportunity for people to celebrate freedom and equal rights in the United States and to highlight the achievements and stories of your Black employees.
June 24: National Take Your Dog to Work Day
The perk of pooches in the office can be a fun and creative way to attract top talent! If you allow employees to bring their dogs into the office, encourage them to share social posts about the holiday. Take photos and share them on your company channels to highlight this interesting initiative.
For #NationalTakeYourDogtoWorkDay, Stephenson Law featured their friendly pup employees!
July
July 5: Workaholics Day
This holiday raises awareness about the fact that all work and no play can be harmful to the mental and physical health of workers. This day is an excellent opportunity to highlight your organization’s commitment to work-life balance and showcase the programs and policies you have in place to ensure your employees aren’t turning into “workaholics.
July 26: Disability Independence Day
CareerArc found diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) messages to be the third most effective type of content motivating job seekers to apply for a job. One way to improve efforts here is to amplify the voices of your employees with disabilities. If you’re wanting to make your workplace more inclusive, content highlighting work done by or your support for employees with disabilities is a great way to start.
July 30th: International Friendship Day
This holiday is about celebrating the friendships that can move and change us for the better, and that includes the friends we make at work. Encourage your employees to share photos and insight into the friendships they have made with their co-workers and highlight the importance of these relationships on your own Recruitment Marketing channels.
Nagarro, an IT company, created a video where they conducted a “friendship test” to see how well some employee pals know each other from #InternationalFriendshipDay.
September
September 3: National College Colors Day
This holiday gives your employees a chance to show their school pride! Share photos and videos of them in their college gear, which can help to attract job seekers, especially those who share an alma mater with your employees.
September 5: Labor Day
This observed holiday is all about celebrating the contributions and achievements of American workers, and it’s an ideal time to show your appreciation for your workforce. Candidates want to work for companies that recognize hard work, so shining a spotlight on your employees can serve as a driver for applications.
September 15-October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States.
WW’s video shared across their socials celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.
Rally note: For ways to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, check out our article on the topic here!
September 16: National Working Parents Day
Employees who work to provide for their children deserve special recognition on this day, and it also gives you a chance to highlight any parental leave or flexible work benefits that you provide. These types of perks are a significant job consideration, and showcasing them can be the deciding factor for many candidates.
Clari posted a shout-out to working parents highlighting quotes and photos from their parent employees.
October
Global Diversity Awareness Month
A diverse workforce brings all ideas, goals and insights to the table. Celebrate the diversity of your employees by sharing content throughout the month of the different backgrounds they come from and the experiences they’ve had. You’ll show job seekers that you strive to create an inclusive work environment for everyone.
October 1: National Coffee Day
This holiday is near and dear to the hearts of many employees! It’s also a great way for you to show a more fun element of your company culture by highlighting the coffee and breakroom options you provide. You can get your employees in on the fun by having them share their favorite types of coffee and coffee room moments with colleagues.
October 10: World Mental Health Day
The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The day is a great opportunity to showcase how you support the mental health of your employees and any candidates thinking about joining your company.
Recapping from #WorldMentalHealthDay, we’re proud to offer a well being app called PAE for our employees to access counselling. We understand the pandemic can affect everyone differently, so we encourage our employees to take care of themselves and maintain a healthy life balance pic.twitter.com/Ngc3f4yemZ
— Endeavour Silver Corp (@EDRSilverCorp) October 29, 2021
A tweet from mining company Endeavor Silver Corp. recapping how they’re supporting their employees with counseling amidst the pandemic.
October 10: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a federal holiday in the United States that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. Work done by employees belonging to indigenous communities, your company’s involvement with particular communities, or any other forms of authentic support are all ideal to share in celebration of this day.
For Indigenous Peoples’ Day, biotechnology company Genentech shared the work being done by their Native Americans (gNA) employee resource group.
October 11: National Coming Out Day
While progress continues to be made towards LGBTQIA+ inclusivity in the workplace, there’s still a long way to go. National Coming Out Day is an opportunity to show candidates and employees belonging to and allied with the community that you prioritize inclusivity at work.
October 16: National Boss’s Day
This day is all about celebrating the bosses and managers who lead and inspire teams in your company. Ask employees to share their favorite things about working for their managers, and share this content to attract candidates who are looking for supportive and motivating leaders.
November
November 1: Job Action Day
On the first Monday in November, people are encouraged to take action on finding passion in their professional lives. You can show how your employees are passionate about their work and how your organization provides these opportunities for those looking for their passion.
November 8: STEM Day
Tech talent wants to know the projects and stacks they’ll be working with before they join your company. Sharing content around these areas in celebration of STEM Day is a great way to do this, not to mention encouraging the next generation of students to pursue a career in STEM (perhaps at your company!)
This #NationalSTEMDay, we’re helping to get your kids excited about a career in STEM. Just cut out the separate Audi parts, put them together, and share the result below.
Download all here: https://t.co/pWxLWFaFQH pic.twitter.com/IemhkKvdGu
— Audi USA (@Audi) November 8, 2020
Audi created a game for STEM Day, providing kids with a downloadable cut-out image of Audi vehicles and asking them to put together the pieces in the right order.
November 11: Veteran’s Day
This day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. Veterans are thanked for their services to the United States on Veterans Day. One way you can honor our vets is to hire them! Take time to showcase all your veteran employment opportunities.
Rally note: Want tips to improve your veteran and military hiring strategy? Take a look at our Case Study featuring Dell Technologies, 4 Proven Tactics to Attract Veterans.
November 29: Giving Tuesday
Giving back is the focus of this holiday, and you can show how your company and employees participate in local charities and volunteer programs. Candidates want to work for companies that share their values, and this day is a great way to communicate that to talent.
It’s #GivingTuesday! When you donate to @PetSmartChariTs today, PetSmart will donate up to $250,000 to PetSmart Charities & PetSmart Charities of Canada. Learn more at https://t.co/CXVzIJFI5t.❤️ pic.twitter.com/7eW99cITRh
— PetSmart (@PetSmart) December 1, 2020
PetSmart partnered with animal charities for #GivingTuesday to encourage donations and highlight how they give back.
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Some national days and months are fun to celebrate over social media, while what you say over social media about other holidays are an important statement of your company’s purpose and values. Making a plan to share social content on relevant holidays helps you build a stronger employer brand, encourages more engagement from your employees and showcases a more relatable and entertaining side of your company to candidates as well as a company that lives its values.
