Administrative Professionals Week
April 20
Spring, 2009
Administrative Professionals Week, also known as
Professional Secretaries Week, is a time to recognize
support staff for their accomplishments and contributions to
corporate success. 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 enhance people's ability to generate
ideas and solve problems.
“Our 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, author of Flower Power and 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.
Administrative Professionals Week History Formerly called
Professional Secretaries Week, Administrative Professionals Week
is a tradition of honoring administrative professionals during
the last full week of April.
Professional Secretaries Week was started in an effort to
recognize secretaries for their contributions to the workplace,
and to attract young people to secretarial careers. The idea
began with Mary Barrett, president of the then National
Secretaries Association (now International Association of
Administrative Professionals), along with public relations
consultant Harry Klemfuss, and Dictaphone Corporation president
C. King Woodbridge. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer
proclaimed the first National Secretaries Week June 1 through
June 7, 1952, with Wednesday, June 4, as Secretaries Day. The
date was changed in 1955 to the last full week in April.
Over the years, Administrative Professionals Week has become one
of the largest workplace observances. The event is celebrated
worldwide, bringing together millions of people for observances
ranging from community luncheons and educational seminars, to
individual bosses recognizing their support staff with gifts of
appreciation.
Source: International Association of Administrative
Professionals
