If you are a boss, a business owner, a supervisor, or a manager of any kind, you're welcome. I'm about to make you look like Prince George's best boss ever.
There are two key pieces of information you need in order to make this happen. First of all, April 27 is Administrative Professionals Day. Put it in your calendar right now. You are likely a really busy person so I mean it, do it right now or I can't help save your hide.
Administrative Professionals Day. Do you recognize the name? Maybe not because it is the reincarnation of National Secretary's Day which was first proclaimed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles W. Sawyer as part of National Secretaries Week in 1952. Since 1955, the special day has taken its place on the Wednesday during the last week of April. While it began as a way to recognize the importance of the work done by administrative personnel, it has since become much broader in terms of the range of positions included and also its inclusion of men, who now commonly hold administrative positions.
So, on the point of sexual equality in the workplace... you can't just get away with the antiquated 'flowers & chocolates' routine on April 27. Having both men and women in administrative roles now, you'll need to think outside the box. This brings me to the second useful piece of information I will share with you... there is a fabulous event happening in Prince George which will allow you to truly acknowledge your staff, male and female, equally.
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce is hosting an Administrative Professionals Day breakfast event the morning of April 27 at Westwood Church on Ospika. For the reasonable price of $32 for Chamber members and $42 for non-members, your staff will be treated to a hot buffet breakfast, swag bags full of goodies, and a feature presentation entitled "Empower Yourself! 5 Steps to Boosting your Confidence & Work Performance." Registration for the event is available online at the Chamber's website: pgchamber.bc.ca or by phone/in person at the Chamber of Commerce office (890 Vancouver Street).
While some may argue that Administrative Professionals Day is just another reason to make consumers out of us all by guilting businesses into purchasing gifts for staff, I think that treating your admin employees to breakfast and personal development is a really appropriate gesture of thanks. And while others will claim that separating admin staff from the rest of the office employee is unfair, I would argue that recognizing the contributions of others is never a bad thing.
Give your admin staff the morning off on April 27. Go a little Hallmark on them and write a genuine note of thanks for what they bring to your team. Then accompany your staff to the event so that you truly host them to breakfast thereby further developing your professional relationship with them in a fun and casual way.
Whatever you do, don't be the boss who shows up on Administrative Professionals Day empty-handed, forgetting to show appreciation to the people who remember all the details, make business run smoothly and make the first impression on your customers.
Until next week, stay in the black and keep coming back.
