At Dun & Bradstreet each year they have instituted something called May Play Day. It’s an unofficial holiday just before the Memorial Day weekend. It is an acknowledgement of all the hard work and effort that has gone on in the past year, and gives folks the ability to spend a little extra time with friends, family, and loved ones. The fact that it connects nicely to a long holiday weekend is especially welcome to most families as well.
For some the extra day is turned into a day of giving or volunteering. Others investment in themselves in the form of training, taking a class or even just some zen quiet time. Others still an extra day at the beach, or a welcome added travel day to get to their families. I have seen all of the above and more as employees routinely share what they did with their extra time away.
I love this idea. Sure – Everyone likes an extra day off – but to institutionalize the recognition of work in this way and then to encourage, share, applaud, and give people a forum to share what they did is actually pretty incredible. It provides a real feeling of ‘family’ and connectedness with the people you work with. It maybe corny or overly passe to say that these days but its a palpable thing.
So what am I doing? Well of course today just happens to coincide with the release of Kenobi on Disney Channel. So priorities dictated that we start there in my household. But perhaps not-so-shockingly it has been spent hanging around with my wife, enjoying some amazing weather, and who knows maybe a trip to the Ice Cream Shop.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day weekend surrounded by friends, family, love and fun. Throw in some lightsabers, some ice cream with peanuts and hot fudge and Wallah! Its a weekend of legend.
\Mm
