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Administrative Professionals Day

Celebrated on April 23, 2008

Facts
Administrative Professionals Day is always observed on the Wednesday of Administrative Professionals Week, the last full week in April (April 20-26 in 2008).
Administrative Professionals Day recognizes and celebrates the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, and other office professionals for their contributions to the workplace.
About 4.1 million secretaries/administrative assistants are in the U.S. workforce. Approximately 1 percent of them are male. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor)
Hallmark began producing Administrative Professionals Day cards in 1973.

2008 Product Features

  • Hallmark offers 32 Administrative Professionals Day cards.

  • New this year, Hallmark introduces four Cards With Sound for this occasion. The cards play favorite songs by the original artists and audio clips from movies and TV shows with CD-like quality. Sound clips include “Under Pressure” by Queen and an audio clip featuring Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestley in The Devil Wears Prada.

  • Some cards are addressed to “secretary” because, according to the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), about 20 percent of the administrative workforce uses the title “secretary.” Other cards say “administrative assistant,” and some express gratitude and appreciation without including a title.

  • Cards include expressions of appreciation for the administrative professional as a person with sentiments such as “You’re a true professional,” “To a terrific co-worker,” and “With thanks for all you do.” Messages also reflect the administrative professional’s changing role and recognize the wonder of multi-tasking.

  • Sinceramente Hallmark also offers 12 Spanish-language cards for Administrative Professionals Day. The card’s message is included in English on the back.

  • A variety of gifts appropriate for the office, ranging from picture frames to coffee mugs are available at Hallmark Gold Crown® stores nationwide.

Holiday History

Mary Barrett, a past president of the National Secretaries Association – now called the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) – led the effort to recognize National Secretaries Week.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer proclaimed the first observance of National Secretaries Week as June 1-7, 1952. Wednesday, June 4, 1952, was designated the first National Secretaries Day. In 1955, the National Secretaries Association changed the dates to the current celebration during the last full week of April.

The name of the observance was changed to Professional Secretaries Day/Week in 1981 when the National Secretaries Association became Professional Secretaries International (PSI).

In 1998, PSI changed the organization’s name to the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), and the name of the occasion was changed again in 2000, when the IAAP designated the holiday as Administrative Professionals Day/Week. The name change reflects the changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of today’s administrative workforce.

In Stores

Available at Hallmark Gold Crown® stores nationwide and wherever Hallmark products are sold. Use the store locator on Hallmark.com to find the nearest Hallmark Gold Crown store.

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