What is the history of Administrative Professionals Day? 📅
Due to World War II, the decreased post-Depression era birth rate, as well as the boom of post-war business, the labor force saw a shortage of administrative professionals. In response, the National Secretaries Association was formed in 1942 to recognize the many contributions administrative professionals made to the economy, support their future development, as well as attract more workers into the administrative field.
National Administrative Professionals Day, formerly known as National Secretary's Day or Admin Day, was first marked as a celebration in 1952 by U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Charles Sawyer, during the larger celebration of National Secretaries Week.
In the year 2000, the week-long observance was renamed Administrative Professionals Week, to include the wide variety of administrative assistants, human resources professionals, office managers, and more titles that fall under the administrative umbrella. It is now celebrated annually during the last full week of April in many countries, such as the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and more.
What does an administrative professional do? 🤔
Whether an administrative assistant or an office manager, administrative professionals are the backbone of many organizations. They are responsible for providing support to executives, managers, and other employees by handling a wide range of tasks that keep the organization running smoothly, such as:
- Organizing and managing information 📂
- Communication and correspondence 🧑💻
- Event planning and coordination 🎈
- Financial and budget planning 💱
- Technology support and software management 🔧
Without the support of administrative professionals, many businesses would struggle to operate efficiently and effectively. Whether they are managing a busy executive's schedule or planning a company-wide event, administrative professionals are an indispensable part of any team.
How should you celebrate Administrative Professionals Day? 🥳
Don’t let Administrative Professionals Day fly under the radar. This is an important day to recognize the hard work of the admin employees in your organization. Here are some great gift ideas to celebrate Administrative Professionals Day with your remote or hybrid office:
- Gift Cards: Pick a gift card to their favorite restaurant, coffee shop, or store, so they can treat themselves to something special.
- Professional development opportunities: Invest in your employees' growth by offering to cover the cost of a workshop, conference, or online course related to their role or interests.
- Personalized desk accessories: Treat them to items like engraved pens or custom notebooks with their name or initials.
- Virtual appreciation party: Host a virtual celebration where you can take a moment to spotlight your admin professionals and their hard work. If you'd like to make it a memorable celebration for the entire office, invite the whole team to join in and play some unique team-building activities! 🎊
- Personalized video messages: Here's an affordable and virtual-friendly idea, ask your departments to make a personalized video message to express their gratitude for the work of your organization's administrative team! Compile them together for a heartwarming video montage to share with your admin team and put a smile on their face. 📹
This is the perfect day to treat your administrative professionals to a special gift. Even better, you can give your team the gift of a unique experience crafted just for their enjoyment. Need some good admin professionals day ideas? Here are a few ideas for creative activities that you can use to reward your hard-working team this April.
7 thoughtful and unique gifts and experiences for administrative team members:
1. Thank you cards 💌
A personalized thank you card is a heartfelt way to express your gratitude and appreciation for the hard work and dedication of administrative professionals. It shows that you have taken the time to think about them individually as team members, their strengths and contributions, and that you value their work.
With virtual offices becoming more common, it's easy to send a personalized thank you card to an administrative professional. You can create a card online and have it printed and mailed directly to the recipient, or you can send an e-card that can be delivered instantly. Add on an online gift card so your employees can treat themselves to a coffee and treat, or lunch!
Why is this an excellent gift for Administrative Professionals Day? When an administrative professional receives a personalized thank you card from the whole virtual office, it shows that everyone in the office cares about them and appreciates their work, even those with whom they may not get to work directly. It's a powerful message that can boost morale and create a sense of belonging.
How to get started 👉 The perfect gift comes from the heart. Create some beautiful thank you cards using free templates with Canva!
2. Coffee or tea making class
Whether they support remote or in-person teams, admin professionals are the glue that holds business operations together. They need a lot of fuel to power through the myriad tasks they tackle over the course of their workdays. This is likely why you rarely see them without a coffee mug in their hands.
Why is this an excellent gift for Administrative Professionals Day? It's the perfect opportunity to fill those mugs with something warm and tasty. All they need is some boiling water, three mugs, and their tasting kit in hand. A host will teach participants all about the international origins of coffee. Then, the team will learn how to assess new coffees, from appearance to the distinct notes in each bean. They'll also learn some grinding and brewing techniques to elevate their morning cups.
How to get started 👉 Put a little pep in your administrative professional's step by booking a Virtual Coffee Tasting. If tea really grounds your team, try a Boba Tea Making Class to give them a taste of international flavor.
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3. Fun and flavorsome lunch party
Many admin professionals are tasked with making sure others get lunch every day. Return the favor this Administrative Professionals Day by hosting a lunch party where your valued employees can get a meal of their choice delivered straight to their doorsteps or ready for pickup whenever and wherever they are.
Why is this an excellent gift for Administrative Professionals Day? Administrative professionals stay busy keeping the office running smoothly. Consequently, they often don't carve out time to do anything for themselves. A lunch party caters to their taste buds and offers some downtime so they can truly savor the experience.
How to get started 👉 Let your administrative professionals know that lunch is on you by booking a Lunch Party! They'll get an awesome digital invitation and a link for a gift card to redeem at the eatery of their choice.
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4. Handmade craft class
Administrative professionals are always in front of the computer, typing away. A crafting activity is the perfect opportunity to let them do something else with their hands. Fortunately, there are so many options. At Confetti, we've got everything from terrarium workshops to candle-making and origami classes. You'll surely find an option that brings your team together around creativity and fun.
Why is this an excellent gift for Administrative Professionals Day? Being an administrative professional can be stressful. Crafting is a stress reliever and contributes to your team's overall well-being. It can even improve blood pressure and hand-eye coordination.
How to get started 👉 Give your team time to stop and smell the roses with a Candle Making Class. If they prefer their activities unscented, our Terrarium Workshop or Origami Class can provide the same level of relaxation.
{{candle="/blog/experiences"}}
5. Amazing happy hour
Help your remote teams beat end-of-the-day exhaustion with a unique and creative virtual happy hour experience. Put a twist on typical after-hours activities with an interactive wine tasting right from the comfort of each employee's home. If you want to spice things up just a bit, consider a mixology class — where your team will learn a few cocktail recipes and bartending skills they can use at their next get-together.
Why is this an excellent gift for Administrative Professionals Day? Your administrative professionals are always on alert and ready for anything that comes their way. A happy hour gives them a much-needed break and the perfect environment to unwind from the pressures of the workday.
How to get started 👉 Let your team wind down by booking Confetti's Wine Tasting or Mixology Class experiences. If music is more your speed, Confetti Pub takes the happy hour experience up a notch with a professional musician, laid-back conversations, and some friendly competition!
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6. Spring Wreath Making Class 🌱
If you're looking for a creative and hands-on gift idea for Administrative Professionals Day, consider a Spring Wreath Making Class. A Spring Wreath Making Class is an interactive activity that allows participants to get creative and use their hands to create something beautiful to enjoy. Plus, it's a great way to break up the monotony of the workday and provide a unique experience for your administrative team members.
Why is this an excellent gift for Administrative Professionals Day? A Spring Wreath Making Class is a great team building activity. It allows your employees to learn new skills together, building camaraderie and strengthening relationships among team members. By the end of the class, your team will have a beautiful spring wreath to display in their homes or offices. But the gift doesn't stop there! They'll also learn wreath-making skills that they can use to create their own festive and floral arrangements all year round.
How to get started 👉 Spruce up your admin employees' day with a Spring Wreath Making Class!
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7. Deskercise Class
A Deskercise Class offers a unique blend of modern yoga exercises tailored specifically for the seated position, making it convenient to integrate into your employees' daily routine. Kicking off with a short meditation session, our skilled instructor will lead you through gentle desk stretches and movements designed to alleviate tension and rejuvenate both body and mind.
Why is this an excellent gift for Administrative Professionals Day? This class promotes physical well-being through movement, which is especially important for anyone who spends long hours at their desk. It also is a fun and interactive way to break up the monotony of the workday and give your employees a much-needed recharge. This activity shows your commitment to the team's health and wellness and helps improve productivity and focus by giving employees a well-deserved mental and physical break.
How to get started 👉 Help your employees stretch out the stress in a Deskercise Class!
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Give Administrative Professionals Day Gifts with Confetti 💓
It’s never a bad idea to show your gratitude to the employees who keep our business operations running smoothly. After all, showing your employees appreciation whenever you can is key to retaining happy employees throughout the employee experience and maintaining a healthy, connected company culture.
Need some more thoughtful ideas for your administrative staff? Check out our National Admin Day collection!
