Black Friday” Once Referred to Employees Calling in Sick After Thanksgiving

You might think you know the real story behind Black Friday, but its origins aren't about shopping at all. Back in the 1950s, when your grandparents were punching their timecards, "Friday-after-Thanksgiving-itis" was giving managers major headaches. Workers would mysteriously "fall ill" the day after Turkey Day, creating a pattern that revealed deeper workplace issues. Before it became a shopping bonanza, this unofficial sick day showed how employees found creative ways to extend their holiday breaks.

The Original "Friday-After-Thanksgiving-itis" Phenomenon

The impact was so widespread that it disrupted production schedules and created staffing shortages across industries.

This unofficial practice of holiday extensions became such a common occurrence that it eventually influenced how companies approached their Thanksgiving holiday policies.

Dating back to 1951, employees regularly taking sick days after Thanksgiving grew into a recognized pattern of absenteeism.

The term originated when Philadelphia traffic police coined "Black Friday" to describe the overwhelming crowds and traffic that flooded the city streets after Thanksgiving.

How Philadelphia Police Shaped Black Friday's Meaning

While employees had long found creative ways to extend their holiday weekends, police officers in Philadelphia faced a very different challenge during the 1960s.

The city's downtown area would become completely overwhelmed with traffic and crowds after Thanksgiving.

You'll find the origins of "Black Friday" in police terminology from this era. Officers dreaded working longer shifts to manage the urban congestion caused by shoppers and football fans attending the Army-Navy game.

They started calling it "Black Friday" to describe the chaos they encountered. The day proved so overwhelming that nobody wanted to work during this hectic period.

The name caught on quickly. Local newspapers began using it, and soon cab drivers and bus operators adopted the term too.

Though merchants tried renaming it "Big Friday" in 1961, the original police nickname stuck and eventually spread nationwide. This attempt to rebrand the day came as stores recognized that consumer spending was rapidly increasing during this period.

From Worker Absenteeism to Shopping Frenzy

Before becoming a massive shopping event, Black Friday actually started as a workplace headache in 1951. You might be surprised to learn that employers coined the term when they noticed a pattern of employee morale taking a nosedive after Thanksgiving, as workers called in sick to extend their holiday weekend.

The transformation from workplace truancy to retail phenomenon began in Philadelphia during the 1960s. Local retailers noticed massive crowds flooding stores after Thanksgiving and adopted the term "Black Friday." The term was initially used by Philadelphia police to describe the chaotic congestion in the streets.

By understanding shopping psychology, stores nationwide turned this formerly negative term into a positive marketing strategy in the 1980s. They introduced "doorbuster" sales and early store openings to create excitement. The introduction of the interstate highway system made it easier for out-of-town shoppers to travel for deals.

What started as "Friday-after-Thanksgiving-itis" evolved into America's biggest shopping day, with Walmart leading the charge by launching 5 AM openings in 1995.

The Birth of Modern Retail's Biggest Day

Modern Black Friday's journey began in Philadelphia during the chaotic 1960s shopping rush. Police coined the term to describe the mayhem as shoppers and tourists flooded downtown after Thanksgiving.

You'll find it fascinating how retailers transformed this initially negative term into retail's biggest shopping event by appealing to consumer psychology.

The crowds were particularly intense due to the Army-Navy football game that brought additional visitors to the city each year.

Picture the scene in 1960s Philadelphia:

• Streets packed with enthusiastic shoppers carrying overflowing shopping bags
• Police officers directing heavy traffic at congested intersections
• Long lines snaking around store entrances
• Newspaper stands filled with thick holiday shopping ads
• Store windows decorated with eye-catching holiday displays

The evolution of shopping habits led retailers to embrace "Black Friday," rebranding it as their path to profitability.

Many stores encouraged shoppers to maintain reflective journals to track their shopping experiences and spending habits throughout the holiday season.

They've mastered using doorbuster deals and limited-time offers to create excitement and urgency among shoppers.

When Black Friday Went Global

As e-commerce gained momentum in the 2000s, Black Friday broke free from its American roots and spread across the globe.

The tradition began when post-Thanksgiving crowds filled Philadelphia's streets in the 1950s, leading to chaos for local law enforcement.

You'll find international sales events in 129 countries, with giants like Amazon and Apple leading the charge.

Different cultures have adapted the concept to fit their own needs. You'll see "White Friday" in Egypt, "Yellow Friday" in Saudi Arabia, and "Jour XXL" in France.

Singles Day in China has become a retail powerhouse that generates record-breaking sales, surpassing both Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined.

In Europe, countries like Belgium and the Netherlands jumped on board after 2015, while Norway started as early as 2010.

The impact's been remarkable. The UK saw online sales hit £8.57 billion in 2020, while South Africa experienced a 36% jump in transactions from 2018 to 2019.

These cultural adaptations have transformed Black Friday from an American phenomenon into a truly global shopping event.

The Push and Pull Between Profits and People

The story of Black Friday's workforce begins with sick notes, not shopping sprees.

You'll find it interesting that workers first used the term in 1951 when they called in sick after Thanksgiving.

Today, employee welfare and consumer pressure create a complex balancing act for retailers.

Research shows that maintaining ongoing evaluation of workplace policies helps companies better respond to employee needs and market demands.

The illness was so widespread that companies referred to it as the "Friday-after-Thanksgiving-itis".

You can see the impact on retail workers through these common scenarios:

• Parents missing bedtime stories to stock shelves at midnight
• Employees eating turkey sandwiches in break rooms instead of with family
• Workers dealing with aggressive shoppers at 5 AM door-busters
• Staff members sleeping in cars between split shifts
• Thanksgiving dinner cut short for evening store openings

Now you're seeing changes, as retailers like REI and Nordstrom prioritize workers' holidays over profits.

They've discovered that treating employees well can actually boost their bottom line through positive publicity and improved morale.