Formerly known as Secretary’s Day, Administrative Professionals Day is an unofficial secular holiday observed on the Wednesday of the last full week of April. This year we celebrate assistants on April 22, 2009. Although the actual holiday is on Wednesday, April 22nd, the festivities usually take place over the full week of April 20th-24th to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals.

National Secretaries Week was created in 1952 through the efforts of Harry F. Klemfuss along with the National Secretaries Association, now known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Harry’s goal was to encourage more individuals to consider careers in the administrative support field. With a background in public relations, he was able to promote the importance of the job and how much these assistants are valued in the work place. A he also created the holiday in recognition of the importance of administrative assistants.


Even thought the holiday is considered “unofficial” Administrative Professionals Week has become one of the largest workplace observances. Administrative Professionals Week is not just a U.S. holiday, but is celebrated worldwide, bringing millions of people together for community events, social gatherings, and individual corporate activities. The International Association of Administrative Professionals suggests that employers honor the holiday, and their administrative assistant staff, by providing training opportunities such as continuing education, seminars, or self study materials. Although further education is great, more personalized gifts or tokens of appreciation the best way to celebrate the holiday. In the United States, and most other countries, the week of celebrating usually involves a gift or gifts of some kind, lunch, paid time off, or flowers as well as any type of continued training.

Depending on how many Administrative Professionals you are honoring, the gift ideas could vary. For personal assistants, spa treatments, a nice lunch out of the office, paid time off, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers are very appropriate and will show appreciation on a personally level. For those companies that have several Administrative Professional Personnel, catered luncheons are a great way to feed everyone without going broke.  Gift baskets are another wonderful way to show your assistant how much they are appreciated.

Be sure to remember those who make your life easier this year on April 20th-24th, 2009 for National Administrative Professionals Week.

Send of of these gift suggestions:

Appreciation Bouquet -  a lovely mug of flowers

Your The Best - a vase of fresh flowers

Candy Bouquet - snack items in a smiley face container

Chocolate Lovers Basket - gift basket filled with chocolate items