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It’s an unfortunate fact that Admin professionals are overlooked, with their contributions often going unnoticed. So, how do you fix this? Admin Professionals Day is the perfect opportunity to change the narrative.
By setting aside a day to recognize them for all the hard work they do can not only boost morale, increase employee retention, and create a thriving organizational culture, but ensure everyone at work knows just how important they are to the company at large.
In this blog, we’ll suggest creative ways to celebrate these unsung heroes and discuss why recognition is key to long-term employee engagement. Whether it’s through a thoughtful gift, a public shout-out, or an ongoing recognition program, it’s all about making admin professionals feel appreciated.
What is Admin Professionals Day?
Admin Professionals Day is an annual opportunity to recognize the invaluable contributions of administrative professionals. By acknowledging all the behind-the-scenes efforts that keep operations running efficiently, the day sheds light on the administrative employees that quietly and steadfastly ensure your teams stay organized and productive.
When is Admin Professionals Day?
Admin Professionals Day is on April 23, 2025. It is an annual celebration of all the hard work that administrative professionals do. The holiday originated in 1952 as National Secretaries Week, initially created to honor the work of secretaries. Over the years, the scope and name of the holiday has evolved to include all of the various roles that fall under the admin professional umbrella.
What do admin professionals do?
Admin professionals handle a wide range of tasks that keep an organization running smoothly. They manage schedules, coordinate meetings, handle communications, maintain office supplies, and support executives and teams. Their responsibilities also include organizing events, managing data, and assisting with HR tasks. Essentially, they serve as the backbone of daily operations, ensuring efficiency and enabling others to focus on their core duties.
Why celebrating Admin Professionals Day matters
Celebrating Admin Professionals Day is important because it recognizes the invaluable contributions of admin professionals to an organization’s success and overall company culture. Acknowledging their hard work boosts morale, strengthens team unity, and promotes a positive workplace culture.
Here are some key reasons why it matters:
Boosts employee morale
Celebrating admin professionals sends the message that appreciation is the norm, not the exception. When organizations are consistently acknowledging team members from every department, it shows that every role matters. In fact, research from Great Place to Work shows that recognized employees are twice as likely to go the extra mile as a boost in morale often leads to more productivity.
Taking inspiration from Admin Professionals Day, companies should make a consistent effort to recognize employees year-round, creating an environment where appreciation and gratitude are ingrained. It doesn’t just boost morale but also improves the employee experience.
Improves retention
Recognizing employees for the good work they do is key to improving employee retention. In fact, Gallup’s long-term data from 2022 to 2024 reveals that well-recognized workers are 45% less likely to leave their jobs after two years.
It’s important to note that the quality of recognition matters. Gallup research also shows that employees who receive genuine, meaningful recognition are 65% less likely to job hunt compared to those who receive lower-quality recognition. This shows that effective employee recognition is a powerful tool in reducing turnover and boosting retention.
Showcases organizational values
Celebrating Admin Professionals Day is a great way to reinforce your organization’s commitment to acknowledging every role, not just those in the spotlight. By recognizing admin professionals, it sends the company-wide message that contributions at all levels, departments, and roles are appreciated. Which in turn, nurtures a culture of inclusivity and respect.
Organizations that actively celebrate their employees signal that appreciation is a core value, not just an afterthought. Companies that make recognition a priority — whether it’s through meaningful gestures, personalized gifts, or consistent appreciation — are well on their way to building a workplace where everybody feels valued.
5 ideas for celebrating Admin Professionals Day
From personalized recognition and public praise to providing access to professional development, there are countless ways to honor your administrative teams. Here are five ideas that cover a range of meaningful gifts and relaxation days, allowing you to customize the gesture based on what admin professionals value most:
1. Personalized recognitions
Personalized recognition, like a handwritten note, may be simple but highly meaningful. Taking the time to craft a message that acknowledges an employee’s unique contributions to the organization ensures the recognition feels sincere rather than generic.
Other ideas could also include custom rewards such as engraved gifts, concert tickets, a gift card to their favorite store, or customized awards that reflect their individual contributions — such as “Travel Coordinator Extraordinaire.” These gestures are a way to genuinely show gratitude and make the admin professionals in your company feel seen.
2. Celebrate achievements publicly
Honoring the contributions of admin professionals in front of others, such as in company-wide calls or team meetings, allows their hard work to be seen and acknowledged in real-time by their peers and leadership. Beyond meetings, another way to do this is to publicly recognize their achievements in internal newsletters or the company’s social accounts so customers and the community can also join in on the celebration.
Before publicly recognizing your admin professionals, it’s important to check with them first whether they’re comfortable with it. While some may thrive on being acknowledged in front of others, others might feel uncomfortable in the spotlight. Tailoring your recognition to the individual’s preferences is key to making Admin Professionals Day a meaningful one.
3. Provide professional development opportunities
While some of your admin professionals may be motivated by public recognition, others may be driven by career advancement. Offering training programs, courses, or certifications, is a way to show that you’re investing in their future with the company, allowing them to grow their expertise.
Examples of how to do this can extend to a stipend for continuing education, or free tickets to relevant industry conferences, giving them a way to learn new skills. Professional development is an excellent way to boost employee morale and loyalty. In fact, according to LinkedIn, 93% of organizations are concerned about retaining their employees, and the top way to improve retention is to provide learning opportunities.
4. Give meaningful gifts
When choosing gifts for Admin Professionals Day, it’s important to select practical yet thoughtful options that reflect the unique needs and interests of your admin professionals. For example, wellness subscriptions, such as meditation apps or gym memberships, could be a perfect fit for employees who prioritize self-care. These gifts not only cater to their personal well-being but also show the organization’s commitment to supporting work-life balance.
Alternatively, consider giving a gift card to their favorite store or restaurant. This thoughtful gesture allows employees to treat themselves to something they truly enjoy, whether it’s a special meal or a well-deserved shopping experience. By personalizing the gift, you’re acknowledging their individual preferences and showing appreciation in a meaningful way.
5. Offer a day of relaxation
Finally, giving the gift of relaxation is a thoughtful way to express gratitude. Some examples could include providing extra time off, allowing admin professionals to recharge and focus on their well-being, while a catered meal or gift card to their favorite local restaurant–is a nice way to elevate a lunch break.
A day of relaxation could also include in-office pampering, such as a mobile coffee cart with specialty drinks, bringing in a masseuse for chair messages, or even a yoga instructor for a midday class. Sometimes, offering appreciation through a well-earned break could be just the ticket to making Admin Professional Day really special.
How employee recognition drives engagement and retention
Employee recognition is a powerful driver of engagement and retention. According to Achievers Workforce Institute (AWI) data, employees that receive monthly recognition are 36% more likely to say they’re highly productive and engaged, while 22% report feeling highly committed to their jobs.
Leaders can use employee recognition programs to celebrate the milestones of admin professionals through social recognition, which contributes to a culture of appreciation. Features such as customizable awards, integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams, as well as the capability to offer real-time feedback makes for an effortless and impactful recognition process.
Tips for maximizing the impact of Admin Professionals Day
To make the most of Admin Professionals Day, it’s important to approach the celebration strategically. Here are some tips for maximizing its impact and ensuring that your admin professionals feel truly valued:
Plan ahead and communicate effectively
Kick off planning for Admin Professionals Day by spreading the word through internal channels like email, company newsletters, or intranet announcements. Promoting the event in advance does more than just raise awareness — it encourages leaders and employees to actively participate.
By clearly communicating what the day is about and how people can contribute, you’ll prioritize the opportunities for peer-to-peer recognition when Admin Professionals Day comes around. Whether it’s a simple thank-you or team-wide acknowledgment, everyone can play a role in showing their appreciation. Beyond making the admin professionals in your company feel valued, it also strengthens team unity and culture through a shared experience of gratitude.
Make it personal
Tailoring recognition to your admin professionals’ needs and interests is a powerful way to make them feel truly valued. To do this, gather insights from recognition tools to understand what resonates most with your employees, whether it’s public praise, personalized gifts, or professional development. Customizing your appreciation efforts to reflect individual contributions, preferences, and milestones — is an opportunity to create rewards that resonate on a deeper level.
To this point, research from McKinsey & Company shows that 55% of employee engagement is driven by non-financial recognition. So, while one-time, uniform bonuses might appear to be generous, going the extra mile to establish a peer-to-peer recognition program where employees can nominate each other for spot bonuses could be even more impactful.
Track and share success
Appreciation for your admin professionals shouldn’t end once the event is over — track the day’s successes and identify areas for improvement to make next year even better.
Analytics tools can help measure engagement, track recognition activities, and gauge employee sentiment. By capturing this data, you’ll be able to assess how effective your efforts were in boosting morale, employee engagement, and satisfaction — while also understanding how admin professionals actually responded to recognition.
Next, share the results through social media, company newsletters, or team meetings to celebrate successes and communicate transparently. This drives home the power of recognition and reinforces the positive impact it has on company culture.
Celebrating admin professionals: The key to thriving workplace culture
Celebrating Admin Professionals Day sets the stage for a positive, thriving workplace culture. When admin professionals are recognized for their hard work and commitment, it boosts morale and imbues a sense of loyalty and belonging.
When tailored to their individual preferences, recognition will feel that much more meaningful. And when celebrated publicly, it allows the contributions of admin professionals to be acknowledged in real-time by their peers. In turn, it will boost employee motivation, engagement, and retention.
In fact, AWI research shows that 45% of employees that are meaningfully recognized feel more connected, and employees with a strong sense of connection are 19% less likely to job hunt. This highlights the key role recognition plays in nurturing lasting relationships, decreasing the likelihood of turnover.
To optimize the day’s impact, use Achievers Recognize and Achievers Celebrate to effortlessly streamline, track, and personalize your recognitions while commemorating important employee milestones. Kickstart the planning for Admin Professionals Day and make it a meaningful and memorable day for the entire team.
