Administrative Professionals Day in United States

Administrative Professionals Day celebrates the role of administrative professionals worldwide. ©iStockphoto.com/ Jeffrey Corneilson

What do people do?

Administrative Professionals Day and Administrative Professionals Week are widely observed in many workplaces in the United States and other countries around the world. Many employers and supervisors arrange events to show their appreciation of the work carried out by administrative professionals, to highlight their importance to the organization and to enhance their work-related skills. Examples include: workshops; seminars; presentations of new office equipment; and networking lunches. Others use the occasion as an opportunity to coordinate individual personal development plans for each administrative staff member. Some employers and supervisors also give monetary bonuses, extra time off or gifts to administrative professionals. Suitable gifts are: personalized business cards; nameplates; ergonomically correct office equipment; flowers; candy; and gift certificates.

The theme for 2008 is "Forward Moving", which denotes how career-minded administrative professionals are positioning themselves for success in the ever-changing modern business environment by mastering advanced office technology, continually honing their communication skills, forging collaborative relationships with managers and work colleagues, and taking charge of their own career development.

Public life

Administrative Professionals Day is not a public holiday and public life is not affected.

Background

During World War II, there was an increased need for skilled administrative personnel, particularly in the United States. The National Secretaries Association was formed to recognize the contributions of secretaries and other administrative personnel to the economy, to support their personal development and to help attract people to administrative careers in the field. The association's name was changed to Professional Secretaries International in 1981 and, finally, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) in 1998. These changes in name reflected the changing nature of the tasks, qualifications and responsibilities of the members of the organization. IAAP now has an international orientation and continues to provide education and training and set standards of excellence recognized by the business community on a global perspective. The organization's vision is "to inspire and equip all administrative professionals to attain excellence".

The first National Secretaries Week was organized in 1952 in conjunction with the United States Department of Commerce and various office supply and equipment manufacturers. The Wednesday of that week became known as National Secretaries Day. As the organization gained international recognition, the events became known as Professional Secretaries Week® and Professional Secretaries Day®. In 2000, IAAP announced that names of the week and the day were changed to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day to keep pace with changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of the modern administrative workforce. Many work environments across the world observe this event.

Symbols

IAAP's logo is a Robinson-type projection of the globe with the letters 'IAAP' on a broad band around the equator. The globe represents the international nature of the association and the letters its name. Each year, this logo is incorporated into an image reflecting the theme of the Administrative Professionals Day and Administrative Professionals Week events. It is sold in the form of a pin as a way of raising funds to help pay the costs of the international conventions organized by the association.

Administrative Professionals Week® and Administrative Professionals Day® are registered trademarks of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). The former names, Professional Secretaries Week® and Professional Secretaries Day®, are also trademarked terms owned by IAAP.

Administrative Professionals Day Observances

Other holidays in April 2008 in United States

• Pascua Florida Day (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)
• United Nations' Mine Awareness Day (Friday, April 4, 2008)
• United Nations' World Health Day (Monday, April 7, 2008)
• Father Damien Day (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)
• Tax Day (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)
• Emancipation Day (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)
• First day of Passover (Sunday, April 20, 2008)
• San Jacinto Day (Monday, April 21, 2008)
• Patriot's Day (Monday, April 21, 2008)
• Oklahoma Day (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)
• Earth Day (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)
• World Book and Copyright Day (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)
• Arbor Day (Friday, April 25, 2008)
• Last day of Passover (Sunday, April 27, 2008)
• Orthodox Easter (Sunday, April 27, 2008)
• Confederate Memorial Day (Monday, April 28, 2008)

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