Happy Gruntled Workers Day!

You may well be asking yourself, “What in the world is Gruntled Workers Day?” Is this just another greeting card holiday, or is this blogger just making things up?

The word “gruntled” was coined in the late 1920s and early 1930s when the term was used jokingly by people who realized that the word “disgruntled” did not have an antonym. With a sense of playfulness, Thomas and Ruth Roy came up with Gruntled Workers Day and submitted it to Chase’s Calendar of Events, who added it to their calendar. Although the exact date of the first observance is not known, it has been acknowledged for a number of years on July 13.

So, what is “gruntled”? Merriam-Webster defines it as a transitive verb meaning “to put in a good humor.” Other definitions include the terms happy, contented, and satisfied. In the context of being a gruntled worker, it references aspects of our work that bring us satisfaction, happiness, or contentment. Gruntled Workers Day celebrates people who are satisfied in their place of work and also sincerely have fun at their jobs. Celebrating the day includes sharing those aspects with others and acknowledging and cheering on others for doing their jobs well.

The idea of being a gruntled employee goes beyond finding the lucky combination of doing what you love and getting paid for it. Gruntled comes with understanding your preferences, personality, and the aspects of your job that fill those needs. This focus allows us to celebrate what we love about our work, all year, and leaning on that to sustain us through challenging times.

How will you celebrate Gruntled Workers Day? Suggestions include enjoying treats that are also celebrated on July 13—french fries and franks & beans (both are also nationally recognized on this day)—and finishing with your favorite ice cream in honor of National Ice Cream Month (July). Above all, look at the bright side and embrace your gruntledness!