SURVEY SAYS – What Happened for Administrative Professionals Day?

April 24, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - This is Administrative Professionals Week - and yesterday was Administrative Professionals Day.

This week I asked readers how they planned to recognize the support of their “administrative professional”.

The most common response this week was “other”, but about half of the nearly 29% in that category were probably better categorized with the 27.8% who said they “don’t enjoy the support of an administrative professional.”

For those that did enjoy that support, the other half of the “other” generally consisted of things not on the option list, or as one reader noted, “I am the Administrative Professional and, as of yet, I have not received any of the choices.”   Another said, “If they give me anything at all, they’ll probably give me more crap to hurry up and get done!”

On the other hand, it may just be a question of timing.   One reader noted, “WHY didn’t you tell us sooner? Now I have to scramble to try to find one of the above I can get in a hurry. You just don’t know how much all of us out here depend on you to keep us straight. :)”.  Another said, “Oops! Thanks for the reminder. Luckily she is on vacation this week which will give me time to get her a gift card to give to her on Monday and she won’t know I was clueless (however she may already suspect that about me).”   Still another noted, “I don’t know yet. Thanks for letting me know. I need for Plansponsor to give me better advance notice about these things!!”   Or, as one reader noted simply, “EEK!”

Just 1% were opting for a card, while roughly 6% were springing for lunch, 3.3% planned on a gift, and nearly 9% were planning to say thanks with flowers.   However, just about as many as all of the foregoing ( 16.5% ) said they were giving more than one of the foregoing ( “Lunch and flowers. It’s a wise investment!” , noted one respondent).

Oh – and 8% – said they weren’t planning to give anything.

As for those verbatims:

"Not really due to any lack of gratitude. I have exceptional colleagues, all of whom constantly support each other in different ways. "Please," "thank you," and other expressions of appreciation obviate the need for a day of recognition to profit the florist, candy and greeting card industries."

"We are in the process of losing our administrative support. Our new senior management believes we can operate without the assistance of "administrative professionals" unless, of course, you happen to be a member of senior management."

"It's Administrative Professionals Week? I think they need to advertise."

"I am pretty much the admin and I guarantee my supervisor isn't doing anything." :0)

"I am my own administrative professional   - certainly more than a rank amateur."  

"You mean some of you still have the luxury of administrative support?!"

But this week's Editor's Choice goes to the reader who said, "My administrative assistant is this thing I'm typing on. Maybe I'll give it a hug... Oh wait. That might be harassment... "

card, gift, lunch
Our office recognized all. Treats, flowers and balloons were set up in a conference room and all were invited to attend.
you mean some of you still have the luxury of administrative support?!
Lunch at 2:00 and the rest of the day off
h - nothing for today, but it was an office decision to recognize our Admin with a really nice gift (and card) at the holidays instead.
My administrative assistent is this thing I'm typing on. Maybe I'll give it a hug... Oh wait. That might be harrassment.....
We'll tak our AP to her favorite restaurant where she pigs out on calamari.
We are sending them all out for a long lunch, without us, which I'm sure they'll greatly enjoy.
The managers in the department brought in food and cooked breakfast for the entire department. In addition we had cards and gave each administrative support person a flowering plant. It was great to have a hot breakfast and we didn't have to leave the building. The smells may drive us crazy the rest of the day, but it was worth it.
Not really due to any lack of gratitude. I have exceptional colleagues, all of whom constantly support each other in different ways. "Please," "thank you," and other expressions of appreciation obviate the need for a day of recognition to profit the florist, candy and greeting card industries.
Lunch and flowers. It's a wise investment!
Card, lunch and bottle of wine
I am the Administrative Professional and, as of yet, I have not received any of the choices.
WHY didn't you tell us sooner? Now I have to scramble to try to find one of the above I can get in a hurry. You just don't know how much all of us out here depend on you to keep us straight. 🙂
Flowers cut from our flower bed along the parking lot. (we're in bankruptcy and had to take a pay cut . . . )
Both A and B. Four of us are splitting the cost for pizza lunch in-house for the five Client Administrators and I gave a card to my CA. And surprised her!
Oops! Thanks for the reminder. Luckily she is on vacation this week which will give me time to get her a gift card to give to her on Monday and she won't know I was clueless (however she may already suspect that about me). Everyone needs a little Monday-pick-me-up anyway.
Flowers and a chair massage
Donuts, of course she is not here to enjoy them. But, since she rarely does anything for me, and since she failed to notify me (again) that she was going to be out.....
lunch, gift, massage, breakfast and a surprise. One wach day
If they give me anything at all, they'll probably give me more crap to hurry up and get done!
We are in the process of losing our administrative support. Our new senior management believes we can operate without the assistance of "administrative professionals" unless, of course, you happen to be a member of senior management.
I don't know yet. Thanks for letting me know. I need for Plansponsor to give me better advance notice about these things!!
EEK!
I am my husband's Administrative Assistant, so I need to remind him to get me a card, flowers, & he owes me dinner (it's too late to make lunch arrangements for today)
It's Administrative Professionals Week? I think they need to advertise.

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