It’s that April holiday I don’t know what to do with. So here is my Administrative Professionals Day cartoon and a tribute to my computer.
Don’t get me wrong. Administrative professionals have very important jobs in many companies. But to me, technology has blurred who is an administrative professional and who isn’t. I tend to agree with an article at Slate saying the “holiday” is doing more harm than good. The title is quite blunt and says the holiday needs to die.
Secretarial Pools Have Dried Up
This day was once called “Secretary’s Day.” To me, this original title alludes to why it is so awkward. Secretaries once did the busy work managers didn’t do before computers. Who remembers shorthand and dictation? What about running to the office supply closet for carbon paper and distributing paper memos to the staff? Those tasks have been eliminated by technology.
Businesses used to have secretary pools. They did all the typing executives and managers either couldn’t or wouldn’t do. Today, an executive or manager would be considered incompetent if they didn’t do their own typing.
If there is any vestige of administrative professionals, it lies with the receptionist role. And even that is changing dramatically. Computers have made tasks that once fell under the purview of a secretary irrelevant.
Executive Assistants
An executive assistant is a very important role and should be treated as such. I have seen these professionals perform crucial tasks for the head of a company. I could see this day changed to Executive Assistants Day and it would make more sense to me.
So while I pay tribute to this day with an administrative professionals day cartoon, I think it is time to cast this day aside
Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.
