Administrative Professionals Day Gifts

The Administrative Professionals Week is observed annually during the last full week of April, from Sunday through Saturday. For 2013, Administrative Professional Week is from April 21 - 27. The Administrative Professionals Day is on the Wednesday of Administrative Professionals Week, and falls on April 24th this year. This article presents the origin of this special day and provides some ideas for Administrative Professional’s Day gifts.

The Administrative Professionals Day was originally established in 1952 as "National Secretaries Day" by the National Secretaries Association (now known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals, IAAP) to recognize secretaries for their contributions in the workplace. IAAP announced a name change for Professional Secretaries Week and Professional Secretaries Day into Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day to better reflect the changing roles and growing responsibilities of the administrative staff in the workplace.

This annual event has grown over the years to be one of the most widely observed celebrations in the workplace. Corporations and organizations recognize the contributions of administrative staff with gifts of gratitude. Common gift selections for administrative professionals include flowers, dish gardens, fruit baskets and thank you gift basket. Some of these gift ideas are discussed below.

Secretaries Day and Administrative Professionals Week are a time to recognize support staff for their accomplishments and contributions to corporate success. But, how do you choose the right way to show your appreciation? Research from Texas A&M University reveals one gift of appreciation in particular that will naturally lift an employee's mood, create a lasting memory and boost productivity.

The research demonstrates that flowers and plants actually enhance people's ability to generate ideas and solve problems.

The study shows that adding flowers and plants to a work environment can be very meaningful to businesses in the modern economy," said Roger Ulrich, Ph.D., lead Texas A&M researcher. "People's productivity, innovation and creative problem solving improved; which in certain circumstances could mean the difference between mild and great business success." Rebecca Cole, host of Discovery Channel's Surprise by Design, offers an additional perspective. "Giving flowers is a loud, proud, sophisticated way of saying ‘I appreciate all you do.' They're a great way to build a strong, lasting professional relationship," said Cole

The most popular flower bouquet to be sent to administrative professionals is a mixed flower bouquet. A basket of assorted fruits is always approprate. Another great gift idea is Thank You gift basket, which is a gourmet gift basket with a clear message of gratitude, and filled with chocolates, cookies, cheese, gourmet coffee, and other savory treats. Your message of appreciation will be clearly presented in your gift.

Alternatively, dish gardens are inexpensive and convenient gifts that can bloom and grow in the office with only minimal care. All the recipients have to do is water the container garden and enjoy the plants. For individuals whose hobby is in gardening, a gardening gift basket or gift certificate would be the perfect gift.

Finally, regardless of what you send to your administrative professionals, your gifts represent your acts of kindness and gratitude, and will plant the seeds for a cooperative and harmonious environment in the workplace.