Administrative Professionals Day

Administrative Professionals Day

Administrative professionals are essential in virtually all sectors of businesses and institutions. Their contributions are celebrated annually on Administrative Professionals Day. This holiday was founded in the United States, but other countries celebrate it, too. It is recognized in conjunction with Administrative Professionals Week, formerly known as National Secretaries Week.

Date of Celebration

In the United States, Administrative Professionals Day is celebrated on Wednesday within the last full week of April. This same week is also Administrative Professionals Week. In 2013, Administrative Professionals Day is slated for observance on April 24^th.

Many other countries and communities around the world also celebrate this holiday. While some choose to observe Administrative Professionals Day on the same date as the U.S., others celebrate it on a different day of the month. For example, France always celebrates the holiday on every third Thursday in the month of April.

Before 1955, Administrative Professionals Day was observed in June. Known then as Secretaries Day, the holiday was moved up in the year due in part to the fact that many professionals take their summer vacations in the month of June. The date was changed so that everyone has a chance to partake in the celebrations of appreciation for administrative staff.

History

Administrative Professionals Day originally stems from an idea from the former president of the National Secretaries Association, Mary Barrett. The Association was established during World War II to help support increasing numbers of secretaries and receptionists across the United States. Still, Barrett recognized a general lack of appreciation for these types of professionals in the workplace, so she wanted to increase awareness for all workers, including future administrative professionals.

Barrett worked with Victor Toldoya of Young & Rubicam, as well as C. King Woodbridge of Dictaphone Corporation to formulate her concept. Collectively, the three came up with the idea of a National Secretaries Week. Charles Sawyer, the Secretary of Commerce, declared the first week of June as the first annual National Secretaries Week. That Wednesday, June 4, was the very first National Secretaries Day.

The dates were changed in 1955 to better suit celebrations. Years later, the name of the holiday was changed to emphasize other administrative roles aside from secretaries. Since 2000, the date has been officially known as Administrative Professionals Day, which takes place during the newly-named Administrative Professionals Week. In addition, the former National Secretaries Association is now called the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Observance

Administrative Professionals Day is considered a secular holiday and is not recognized by the federal government. While some companies might give their administrative professionals the day off, others might rotate paid days off throughout Administrative Professionals Week. Since these professionals are essential to day-to-day operations, many do not take the day off. However, they are often celebrated at the workplace through office parties and administrative gifts. This is not a government holiday, so no related institutions are closed on Administrative Professionals Day.

The International Association of Administrative Professionals also sells pins to help raise funds for the annual holiday celebrations. These pins carry a logo of the globe with the Association’s name across the equator. Many workers wear the pins on Administrative Professionals Day to help show their support.