International Workers' Day

International Workers' Day, or May Day, falls on 1 May and celebrates workers and the labour movement. It is a public holiday in many countries, though not in the UK, which has an early May bank holiday on the first Monday of May, or the US, which marks Labor Day in September.

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Newsletter blurb

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1 May is International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, a public holiday in many countries that recognises the contribution of working people. If you work with colleagues in other countries, check whether they are off today before booking meetings or expecting quick replies. It is also a good moment to remind everyone of the policies that support you at work, from leave to flexible working. You can find them at [link to policies].

1 May is International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, a public holiday in many countries that recognises the contribution of working people. If you work with colleagues in other countries, check whether they are off today before booking meetings or expecting quick replies. It is also a good moment to remind everyone of the policies that support you at work, from leave to flexible working. You can find them at [link to policies].

Slack / Teams post

For the company channel on the day.

It is International Workers' Day, a public holiday in many countries, so some colleagues and partners may be offline today. Worth checking before you book that meeting.

It is International Workers' Day, a public holiday in many countries, so some colleagues and partners may be offline today. Worth checking before you book that meeting.

Talking points

For managers and team leads.

- Check which team members and partners have a public holiday today. - Remind people of their leave and flexible working entitlements. - Recognise the work of colleagues whose contributions are less visible.

- Check which team members and partners have a public holiday today.
- Remind people of their leave and flexible working entitlements.
- Recognise the work of colleagues whose contributions are less visible.

Tone note

How to pitch it.

Keep the message factual and appreciative, and stay away from politics. Be aware of which colleagues have a public holiday so nobody is expected to work through it.

Keep the message factual and appreciative, and stay away from politics. Be aware of which colleagues have a public holiday so nobody is expected to work through it.

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Subject line ideas

Try these subject lines to boost open rates:

International Workers' Day: What we're doing this year
It's International Workers' Day — here's how you can get involved
This week: International Workers' Day + team news
1 May: International Workers' Day at [Company]

How to feature this in your newsletter

Plan ahead — Add International Workers' Day to your content calendar at least 2 weeks before the date so you have time to gather content and images.
Choose your angle — Will you run a dedicated special edition, or include it as a section in your regular newsletter? Bigger events work well as specials; smaller ones fit into your weekly digest.
Involve your people — Ask employees to share their stories, experiences, or ideas related to International Workers' Day. User-generated content always gets higher engagement.
Include a call to action — Give readers something to do: attend an event, share a message, learn something new, or donate to a cause.

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