What is Administrative Professionals Day 2024 & When is it?
Administrative Professionals Day (also known as Administrative Assistant Day, Secretaries Day or Admin Day) is a day to highlight the important role of secretaries, assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support, which is observed in several countries. This year, Administrative Professionals Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
Originally, the official period of celebration was held June 1–7 in 1952, with Wednesday, June 4, 1952 designated as National Secretaries Day. In 1955, the observance date of National Secretaries Week was moved to the last full week of April. The name was changed to Professional Secretaries Week in 1981, and became Administrative Professionals Week in 2000 to encompass the expanding responsibilities and job titles of administrative support staff.
Today we continue to celebrate Administrative Professionals Day as these individuals are often the unsung heroes of the workplace. It is a way to show appreciation for their important efforts that help keep the office running smoothly.
5 Ideas To Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day 2024
Administrative Professionals Day has become one of the largest workplace holidays. Companies have celebrated through community events, social gatherings, and individual corporate activities recognizing support staff with gifts. Many US companies celebrate by giving flowers, candy, trinkets, lunch at a restaurant, gift cards, training opportunities or time off.
Gifting experiences has become a popular way to show appreciation for your employees. In recent years, many more employers and supervisors have started arranging events to show their gratitude. These events not only highlight the importance of administrative professionals within the organization, but also provide them with opportunities to grow their skills and build connections with more individuals. If you’re wondering what to get to show your administrative professional staff to show how much you appreciate their contributions this year, consider an experience rather than just a gift box.
1. Invest in Software to Facilitate Administrative Work
One of the best ways to make someone feel like their job is important is to invest in their role or department, especially in ways that make work more fun, efficient, or easier. Your administrative team will be more energized, have more time for other tasks, and feel recognized.
If you’re managing a marketing department, ask your team to help identify opportunities for more data and automation. If you’re managing an accounting team, explore tools and training for programs like Salesforce. Do you lead a project management team? Check out tools like Trello.
2. Arrange a Fun Team Building Experience
Having fun at work doesn’t just lead to great company culture, it also boosts productivity. Now more than ever, it’s important for employees to have fun and build connections with their coworkers.
Team building activities, events, and icebreakershelp the members of your team create bonds that are as authentic as they are deep. Opportunities for team bonding are a great way to celebrate and create a culture of teamwork. Whether they are virtual or in person, fun events are a perfect fit for Administrative Professionals Day. Schedule time for your team to participate in a friendly team building competition. Here are some of our favorites:
Corporate Survivor
In true Survivor fashion, Corporate Survivor is an opportunity to see your group working, laughing and learning together like never before. They’ll enjoy all the drama and adrenaline rush of the real Survivor experience as they work to outwit, outplay and outlast the competition. To better unify your organization, shuffle up the teams so employees get to work with different colleagues. This event can a great opportunity to take advantage of the improving weather and bring your team closer together.
High Tech Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunts have become an exciting way to celebrate Administrative Professionals Day 2024. With a wide variety of hunts to choose from, there is no shortage of excitement. The challenges build into each of our hunts can be customized around your company culture, location(s), time constraints and participants.
The Mystery Bus
The Mystery Bus helps to create lasting memories for years to come. This custom-tailored team building event transports your team to some of the weirdest, coolest, most wonderful destinations in and around your city of choice. They truly won’t know where they’re going till they get there.
3. Gift Your Team Learning & Training Opportunities
Professional training programs delivered by industry experts are designed to energize your organization. Based on your specific needs, each team building and professional development program combines work and play led by passionate, experienced, and often local trainers. Through programs like Breaking Barriers, your staff will learn through hands on experience and still have fun in the process. Giving administrative professionals the opportunity to develop new skills and enhance existing ones has several benefits such as:
- Offering more value to the organization
- Opportunity for career advancement
- Increasing confidence
- Improving job satisfaction
Is your team spread throughout the country or around the world? Programs like our Virtual Resiliency Training workshop can still help you celebrate Administrative Professionals Day 2024 while learning in the process.
4. Support Causes That Are Important to Them
Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day 2024 by giving back as a team. When employees see that their company is actively supporting issues that matter to them, it not only boosts morale and improves company culture, but builds trust and loyalty. You can simply donate to a cause that is important to them, or arrange a charitable event they can be involved in. Here are a few examples of activities your team could participate in:
Clean Water Connection
Giving the gift of clean water to those who have no access is more than a drop in the bucket. The ripple effects of the Clean Water Connection water filter donations include providing health benefits, increasing sanitation, saving hours of time each day, and improving education and work rates. Connect with your team as you connect with a global community in need of the most basic of elements: water.
Wheels Around the World
In this Wheels Around the World, each team will sponsor a wheelchair, complete a set of activities, decorate and personalize a wheel safety cover, and discover more about their recipients. Participants will make a direct impact on a person’s life while at the same time raising awareness of what it is like to live with a disability.
Little Team Library
Give the gift of literacy in this hands-on charitable program that combines the building of Little Free Libraries with the creativity of storytelling. Teams will work together to assemble the kits, decorate, and write and illustrate a children’s book to go in the finished product. In this unforgettable event, you’ll create a permanent neighborhood book exchange in the community while having fun and connecting with your team.
5. Sending Gifts and Kits
Everyone loves to receive a gift now and again. It is a simple, yet meaningful way to show your administrative team that you appreciate their consistent hard work and dedication. Some ideas for gifts and kits for Administrative Professionals Day include:
Self Care Items
Sending self care items help employees reduce stress and improve their overall wellbeing. Essential oils, spa certificates, and cozy blankets are just a few examples.
Office Supplies
Consider gifting your admin professionals a customized stationary set, notepad or pens. Not only are these types of gifts useful for their day to day, but when personalized show you spent time thinking of them.
Experience Gifts
Give them an experience with their gift such as a cooking class, wine tasting, or tickets to an event to make their day special. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Chocolate Tasting
- Beer and Cheese Tasting Event
Have Some Fun on Administrative Professionals Day
Whether it be through learning, gifts, or experiences giving back to your team for Administrative Professionals Day will make them feel appreciated and create a better working environment. Contact us if you need help planning the perfect event and be sure to browse our catalogue of innovative activities to give your team a day they will be sure to remember.
