National Secretary's Day falls on April 26th, right in the middle of Professional Secretary's Week. You may believe it was created as a "Hallmark Holiday" by the card companies eager for another April celebration, or you may believe it was created to acknowledge a group of hard-working professionals. Either way, there is no denying that it is important to appreciate all the time and effort that these special people provide their company.
Over the years, the title Secretary has become any number of titles such as Administrative Assistant, Executive Assistant, or some kind of Administrator title. This is because the role of a Secretary has changed significantly from what it used to be. With the downsizing of corporations, much of the middle manager duties has transferred to the Secretary. Typing letters and filing has become formulating budgets, document creation, and even being a team player where confidential matters of the company are concerned. With this expanded role, Secretaries are increasingly a vital part of the organization.
The standard for Secretary's Day is some sort of a gift and lunch with the Boss. This can take place anytime during Secretary's Week. Here are some gift suggestions:
* Extravagant Gifts - Gift
Baskets or Flowers fit into this category. These gifts will vary to fit a particular
personality.
* Business Accessories - along the lines of personalized pens, a special paper
weight or a leather portfolio.
* Other Gifts - such as a round of golf, or a donation to charity in their name.
There are many other personal gifts like jewelry or perfume, but you need to be careful in this area. What you may think is an innocent gift may easily be construed otherwise by either the recipient or another co-worker. It is your responsibility to determine the appropriateness of your gift based on their length of time with the company and the status of your professional relationship. You also want to avoid gifts that are too business related such as a new software package or computer accessory.
If you are not already familiar with your company's gift giving policy, you may want to contact your human resource department and even an accountant for some gift guidelines and regulations. Larger companies usually have a policy for both gift giving and receiving which identifies acceptable behavior and may indicate the tax accountability of your gifts.
As always, include a personal note with your gift. You should mention the occasion (i.e. Secretary's Day) and an appropriate sentiment (i.e. "Keep up the good work" or "I appreciate all your help"). It is a nice touch to present your gift in front of the whole department in order to publicly recognize the recipient.
Gift giving is a powerful tool to not only recognize your hard-working assistants, but also to show your appreciation for their work. Gifts have a way of making someone feel important and can be a strong employee motivator. Use these tips to your advantage and theirs!
About the
author:
Lisa LeClaire is the owner of Fundamental Expressions Gift Baskets http://www.fegifts.com
and the publisher of The Gift Grapevine E-Zine. Deliver your expression
and leave an impression!
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