Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day

Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day is on April 21st this year. This event will give people in management roles a chance to acknowledge the administrative professionals that allow our businesses to operate and flourish.

The International Association of Administrative Professionals first organized a “Secretaries’ Week” in 1952 to recognize secretaries for their contribution in the workplace. Like many industries traditionally populated by women, the vital work of secretaries was often undermined or overlooked.

To this day, secretaries and administrative assistants do a huge amount of the labour that allow organizations to operate at all, often more than even their managers know. This week provides an opportunity to honor and acknowledge the staff that run our businesses on the ground, while we can continue to grow and lead from a macro level.

Here are some way to meaningfully acknowledge your administrative staff this year:

1. Take them for lunch. Once restrictions are able to loosen, treat your staff to a meal out. This dedicated time will give you a chance to connect on a personal level, and provide a fun, special experience for both of you. In the meantime, send them a thank you note with an “IOU” for a meal together at Seasons in the Park, or any preferred establishment.

2. Hand write your thank you note. While sending an email is quicker and simpler, hand writing and delivering your card will go a long way to helping your staff feel acknowledged. If you are working from home right now, delivering the note to their door will give you an opportunity for a short (masked!) outdoor hello, which will go a long way to making them feel prioritized!

3. Recognize them publicly. If you are thanking administrative professionals by email, make sure you CC all the relevant members of the department or group. Sometimes the work of the administrator feels invisible, so public recognition of their contributions will remind everyone on the team of their hard work.

4. Be specific. A quick, general note of thanks isn’t always enough - it is best to convey the specific skills and traits that they demonstrate which holds them apart. If you can cite specific examples of their excellence, go for it! For example, you can say that it meant a lot to you to have their eyes on the last quarterly report, and that their attention to detail really made a difference.

5. Consider sending a small gift. A gift is always a wonderful way to express gratitude for an administrative assistant, receptionist or secretary. Remember their personal interests when choosing an item. Neutral gifts like flowers or a gift basket are always appreciated. Here are some awesome gifts for your consideration.

Administrative Professionals Appreciation Week is a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to the people who have chosen to work on your team and make your dreams a reality. Administrators at all levels hold a huge amount of responsibility, have a very high level of skill, and yet often don’t receive the recognition they deserve. Take the time to acknowledge all their contributions this year. H