Dare we say it? Secretary. Dunt-dunt-dun. Support staff converge and unite worldwide! Attack! Today, if you want to avoid a verbal battering or dagger spitting evil eyes, you won't mention this word to those who make a profession assisting others or performing vital tasks for managerial types in an office setting. But over half a century ago, "secretary" was still an acceptable term and those by that name served as the inspiration for a day to recognize their efforts and contributions. Today the politically correct terminology is Administrative Professionals and is in actuality a more accurate label since it encompasses the multitude of positions in the world of support staff that exist today which have evolved from the 1950's secretary.

Administrative Professionals Day (formerly known as Secretaries Day) is part of a week long celebration established for the recognition of administrative professionals worldwide. Administrative Professionals Week is celebrated annually during the last full week of April, with Administrative Professionals Day assigned to the Wednesday of that week.

Creating an official date to recognize administrative professionals is a concept developed in the mid 20th century. At the time the idea came about, the term "administrative professionals" was not used. The support staff of interest and subject of recognition were referred to as secretaries. Back in 1952, a public relations account executive named Harry F. Klemfuss set out to promote the careers in the support field as he recognized their importance to a business. The National Secretaries Association (known today as International Associated of Administration Professionals, IAAP) and a group of office product manufacturers worked along with Klemfuss to organize a "National Secretaries Week" in 1952. The goal of such an event was to address a national shortage of administrative professionals at the time by highlighting the value of such positions and encouraging more people to enter the field. The official purpose of the observance was to appreciate "the secretary, upon whose skills, loyalty, and efficiency the functions of business and government offices depend" and to "call attention through favorable publicity, to the tremendous potential of the secretarial career."

In 1952, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer declared the first National Secretaries Week held the 1st through the 7th of June. National Secretaries Day was designated the Wednesday of that week. The date for National Secretaries Week was changed by the National Secretaries Association in 1955 to the last full week in April. As a sign of the changing times, the name of this week to honor those in support positions was changed in 1981 to Professional Secretaries Week, and then again in the year 2000 to Administrative Professionals Week. Whatever the name of the week, the Wednesday that falls during it has remained a designated day to recognize those whose positions fits under the week's title.

Today, Administrative Professionals Week (and Day) is celebrated around the world. In the United States it is customary for management and other co-workers to recognize administrative staff by treating them to lunch or by giving flowers, candy, and possibly time off. The sponsor of Administrative Professionals Week, the IAAP, suggest observing this week by "providing training for administrative staff through seminars, continuing education or self-study materials" and suggests management "make a commitment towards delegating responsibilities that better utilize the skills of administrative professionals." Thanks for that, IAAP. Hey, you didn't really want that free lunch, candy, or time off anyway...Did you?