Does anyone care about APD outside the industry?
Who is celebrated on Administrative Professionals Day?
Administrative Professionals Day (APD) is celebrated every year around the world. In the US, the holiday was first created in 1952 to acknowledge the work of secretaries and other administrative workers. Today, it is recognised worldwide, including in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, France, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium and South Africa.
APD is an opportunity to show appreciation for the executive support staff who play a vital role in the smooth running of businesses and organisations. It is also a chance to promote career development opportunities for executive and personal assistants.
By recognising the essential contribution of executive support, we can create a more positive, inclusive and productive workplace for everyone.
The intention of APD was to establish a day in the business calendar where the work of administrative professionals could be recognised as valuable and given the respect, honour and dignity they deserved. However, the day has always struggled to get recognition beyond the industry players. It is often a day that passes without much fanfare.
It's a sad state of affairs when the flowers on a personal assistant's desk are from a manager who asked her to send them to herself! This might seem funny to many, but in the world of administrative professionals, it happens in workplaces globally.
There is a strong service orientation to the executive support role. But we must wonder if "customer is king" and "that's their job" attitudes are responsible for the low levels of appreciation experienced by many admin professionals globally?
Every day (yes, even on weekends!), administrative professionals make a difference in the lives of those around them. They provide essential support that helps businesses run smoothly and efficiently. The job of a personal assistant is as important to an organisation's performance as any other role within the organisation.
However, administrative support professionals continue to be undervalued and overlooked, negatively impacting productivity, overall wellness, and engagement at levels that should cause concern for employers. The Global Assistant's (TGA) independent global survey results support this well-known fact within the industry, but it is a sentiment that, outside the industry, is probably taken for granted because it is rarely acknowledged.
In the recent LinkedIn poll, we asked assistants, "Do you feel that admin staff are recognised in the same way other cohorts are in your organisation? The results speak volumes. 90% said no, and only 10% responded 'yes'.
HR leaders need to be aware of this, and leadership must focus on improving these metrics as they directly impact the potential productivity of the executives the administrative employees serve. Executive and personal assistants often find themselves in the background, providing vital support but not receiving the recognition they deserve.
What to do about it – a message for HR professionals.
TGA has worked with executive support teams globally, and a consistent theme supports these research findings. Business support services professionals would welcome more visibility within an organisation's internal rewards system. Recognising the individual and group contribution to the organisation is essential to maintaining a motivated and engaged administrative team. They have touchpoints across all stakeholder networks and are vital to best-practice representation and the company culture. They are often the closest in alliance and understanding of the needs and motivations of an organisation's leadership.
Increased visibility – a message for organisational leaders
One way to increase visibility for business support services is to highlight their contribution in executive briefings and reports. This would help demonstrate the value of their work to senior leaders and decision-makers. The executive support skillset is adaptable and transferrable, and the professionals are well credentialled, richly experienced, and agile. In the age of 'skills over job title,' they are ripe to take on value-add responsibilities.
Ownership – An important message for admin professionals
Circling back to APD, one more issue needs to be addressed. It requires buy-in from its key stakeholders – the professionals and the peak bodies representing them.
Let's start with an important question – Why are there so many different dates in the global calendar to honour the profession? Does it not diffuse the focus needed to bring stronger awareness? Think IWD, Earth Hour, International Refugee Day, World Gratitude Day, Inventors Day, World Teacher's Day, World Farm Animals Day – the list is (almost) endless. These days have been sanctioned by the United Nations or internationally recognised. If the UN can sanction Pi Day, surely APD can earn a place on this list as well.
Currently, there are several dates on the calendar – according to Wikipedia.
In the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, it is celebrated annually on the Wednesday of the last full week of April.
In New Zealand, it is on the third Wednesday of April.
In Belgium, France and the Netherlands, it is celebrated annually on the third Thursday of April.
In Australia, it is celebrated annually on the first Friday of May.
In South Africa, it is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday of September.
In Brazil, it is celebrated annually on 9 September.
For the administrative industry to make a difference on a global scale and its professionals to be duly recognised as a general rule rather than the exception, 'one voice' is critical. Coming to an agreement to establish a global day to acknowledge Administrative Professionals would be a step in the right direction. This would be an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and raise awareness of their vital role in the workplace. Such a day would also help promote career development for administrative professionals by highlighting the importance of their skills.
Ultimately, a global day to honour administrative professionals would be a powerful way to more effectively raise awareness, show appreciation for their contributions, and make a difference in their lives.
What are your thoughts?