Did you read
about the
ways some admin readers prefer to be
recognized on Administrative Professionals Day?
Now for the nuts and
bolts of this "holiday"...
DATES:
Administrative Professionals Week is
observed annually during the last full week in April beginning on Sunday.
April 20-26, 2008
Administrative Professionals Day is
observed annually on the Wednesday of Administrative Professionals Week.
April 23, 2008
OWNERSHIP:
The terms Administrative Professionals
Day and Administrative Professionals Week are under trademark ownership by
the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP).
That means you need to use the trademark symbol (®)
after each phrase the first time you mention them in your copy. The IAAP
is the sole originator and sponsor of this day. [That's correct---It
wasn't a "holiday" started by the flower and candy companies. They just
jumped on the bandwagon for obvious reasons.]
ORIGIN:
Administrative Professionals Week and
Administrative Professionals Day were formerly called Professional
Secretaries Week® and Professional Secretaries
Day®. [If you missed The Effective Admin editor's little speech on
evolving job titles of
administrative professionals?] Observance of
this day and week began in 1952.
Note: Some
people detest calling this day and week a "holiday" or a "celebration".
The Effective Admin uses these words loosely to describe the day and week
for the convenience of writing about it. It's actually more of a "day and
week of recognition" for this industry sector of administrative
professionals.
On its
website, the IAAP says Administrative Professionals Week "calls attention
to the important workplace role of administrative professionals".
Of course,
all employees are important in your workplace, but this "holiday" does
present a potential motivational and recognition opportunity for employers
to utilize in their companies. Can you ever have too much motivation and
recognition of the people who keep you in business (by keeping your
customers happy and your daily operations operating)?
RECOGNITION
POSSIBILITIES:
The IAAP's
primary recommendation is that employers observe the week and day by
providing education and training to their administrative professionals.
For example, if you're an employer you may want to send your
administrative professional(s) to a seminar.
If you find
this idea too pricey for your department budget (to send each admin),
consider bringing a single educational speaker on-site to speak during a
catered luncheon for your administrative professionals. [Tip: In addition
to full-scale buffet hot meal catering, you have options such as bring in
boxed lunches with gallon size tea or can drinks. Or you can host a
continental breakfast buffet of sweet rolls, croissants, etc. Or you can
hire a deli to deliver platters of sandwiches. Okay...you get the
idea...just ask your admin though it would be cooler if you handled it for
this day.]
Administrative Professionals want what each (or most) of your employees
want: 1) Recognition for a job well done; 2) Opportunities, paid for by
the company, to attend educational events that will aid them in their
professional growth and learning---for their careers and usage on the job
for employers. Grooming your administrative professionals through
educational opportunities is clearly a win-win situation for both of you.
Another
unique recognition idea might be that you want to present your
administrative professional with a company gift certificate (which you can
create) that says it's good for attendance to and approval of an x-day
seminar (at a cost of x or less). That way you have something to give to
your administrative professional on this day of recognition if you want to
do a presentation. Yet she (or both of you) can do some research on
conferences and seminars before setting a future date in the year to
attend such a useful educational conference.
If you're an
employer you also can provide other educational opportunities such as a
designated budget for books, periodicals and other self-study materials.
Is there a
particular piece of software, hardware or other equipment your
administrative professional wants to do her work better for you? For
instance, maybe she would like to pick out an ergonomically correct chair.
You might ask your administrative professional if there is something that
would make her day smoother on the job that you can offer her as
recognition on this day.
Many
administrative professionals, just like some of your other employees,
appreciate cash bonuses or a few extra hours off to run personal errands.
Of course,
some administrative professionals prefer not to recognize this day or week
for various reasons. Perhaps they believe they shouldn't be highlighted
among the staff just due to their job title. Or perhaps they feel guilty
when a neighboring administrative professional receives no recognition
from her boss within the same company. If this is the situation in your
company, your discretion in recognizing your administrative professional
one-on-one may be the most respectful way to handle this matter. Or you
may want to be the boss who suggests to the company president that a
central recognition event be held for the day and that it be optional for
attendance by administrative professionals (Pass a sign-up sheet or rsvp
email to all admins company-wide prior to the day so you can figure the
logistics and budget for the presentation, speaker or luncheon, etc.).
The biggest
guideline for recognizing your administrative professional(s) during
Administrative Professionals Week is just to ask them how they feel about
the day/week and their preference for observing it (or not). If you're an
employer or boss who is communicating with your administrative
professional staff year-round a conversation about Administrative
Professionals Week should be an easy exchange with no awkward moments. If
it's not, well...enough said.
PS: If
you're an employer looking for tips on how to work more effectively with
your administrative professional, check out the last digital publication
in the list at The Effective Admin store. It's
directed toward managers and senior level positions who have an
administrative professional reporting to them.
Subscribe to receive
The Effective Admin e-zine here.
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