Administrative Professionals Day

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! It's a day to recognize those that make your life run more smoothly.

Budget
There are lots of theories out there about how much to spend on a gift, I think you should go with what you think is reasonable for your income, industry, and the amount of help the person provides. Admittedly, there are some industries out there where cash bonuses are expected, but I think most people appreciate that they were remembered.

So, before you read any further, decide who you will be giving a gift to and what your budget is.

Gift Ideas

Here are some ideas for gifts this administrative professionals day.

Card
Please include a card with a personal thank you, no matter what else you do. Even better, deliver it personally and also express your thanks in person.

Cash or Gift Cards
People always appreciate cash or gift cards. If you are going to get a gift card, make sure it is a place the person likes shopping. It would be a real shame to give a gift card to a seafood restaurant if the person is allergic to seafood. If you don't know what they would like, there are plenty of generic gift card options out there like a Visa or American Express gift card that can be used for anything.

Here is an example of gift cards attached to a plant. What a fun idea for a group gift.

There are lots of cute ways to package a gift card. One place to look for ideas is to search for Teacher Appreciation ideas, like these:

*Thanks a latte.
*Popcorn with movie gift certificate.

Time Off
If you have the authority, give your secretary some extra time off. A few hours off on Friday, even a longer lunch hour would be appreciated.

Flowers
Flowers can be a cheerful way to show appreciation. A cut flower arrangement is one idea. A potted plant would be a longer lasting item. If you give plants or flowers, be sensitive to possible allergies.

Take a look at this adorable corkboard flowerpot.



Food
Take your secretary out to lunch, give her chocolates or a cookie bouquet. Be sensitive to anyone who is on a diet, though. These fruit bouquets could be a fun, edible treat for someone who is on a diet (or even someone who isn't!).

Homemade or Personalized Gift
If you know the person well enough to know something they would appreciate, then you may be able to think of other ideas. One thing I've been excited about lately is glass etching. How about a personalized candy dish filled with fun treats or a monogrammed glass pitcher with matching glasses.

Here are some other gift giving ideas:
Top 10 Inexpensive Gifts for Your Secretary
Great Gifts for Your Secretary
10 Best Christmas Gifts for a Secretary

Gift Giving the Rest of the Year
Finally, here are some tips on gift-giving to secretaries the rest of the year. I got these tips here. Normally, I would just include the link, but the main gist of the article is on giving secretaries cash for the holidays and they seem to be using some rule of thumb for calculating the amount that I think is exclusive to law firms in New York. However, the general rules on gift-giving the rest of the year I thought were well said:

• For birthdays, give flowers — this alerts the rest of the office that it’s the secretary’s birthday (and gee, doesn’t s/he have a great boss for getting her/him such swell flowers?)
  
  
• For unfortunate events, give food baskets — for example, if your secretary breaks her leg or her grandmother dies, it would be rude not to send something to the hospital or to her home — and food is better than flowers because it recognizes that your secretary is probably too overwhelmed to be cooking right now
  
  
• For service above and beyond secretarial duties (anything from watering your plants while you honeymoon to covering for you while you interview elsewhere), give gift cards, plants, take him or her out to lunch, or give him or her a more personal gift