With thanks to all who are participating, here are the results of this past weekend’s poll, which I’ve now closed. This poll’s focus:
What do you think of the recognition given to admin. professionals each April?
The results: Just over one in three respondents receive recognition of the occasion from their executive or office team. While much of the recognition is informal, 35% of it takes place formally and/or in a meeting.
Those who do receive recognition continued with the poll, in which we looked at tokens of appreciation. Greeting cards topped the list of such gestures of appreciation, followed by meals, chocolates and then flowers, with professional development opportunities bringing up the rear.
What would admin. professionals appreciate in the form of recognition? Acknowledgement and expressions of thanks were common themes, and salary increases were also noted. What did I find particularly interesting? Responses to the question of whether such an annual recognition day or week is appropriate. Read on for detailed results.
Does your executive/office team extend recognition of your contributions as part of Admin. Professionals/Management Assistants’ Day?
- No: 59% of respondents
- Yes: 35% of respondents
- 6% of respondents selected “Other”. One wrote, “They don’t know about it.”
Do you receive recognition/appreciation in conversation?
- Yes; informally so: 59% of respondents
- Yes; this occurs formally and/or in a meeting: 35% of respondents
- No: 18% of respondents
Do you receive recognition in the form of a greeting card?
- No: 59% of respondents
- Yes: 41% of respondents
Do you receive recognition in the form of flowers?
- No: 82% of respondents
- Yes: 18% of respondents
Do you receive recognition in the form of a meal?
- No: 56% of respondents
- Yes; lunch with my team: 22% of respondents
- Yes; gift certificate for dining: 11% of respondents
- Yes; lunch with my boss: 5.5% of respondents
- 5.5% of respondents selected “Other”. One wrote, “breakfast at a morning PD event”.
Do you receive recognition in the form of chocolates?
- No: 76.5% of respondents
- Yes: 23.5% of respondents
Do you receive recognition in the form of a professional development opportunity?
- No: 78% of respondents
- Yes: 11% of respondents
- 11% of respondents selected “Other”. Two people offered comments. One wrote, “Sometimes, grudgingly”, while the other wrote, “opportunity to attend a morning network PD event, which includes breakfast”.
I asked readers who receive recognition by other means to select “Other” and provide brief details.
One fortunate respondent wrote, “Spa gift card”.
I asked readers if they believe that such an annual recognition day/week is appropriate. Here’s what you said.
- Yes: 67% of respondents
- No: 22% of respondents
- 11% of readers selected “Other”. The tone of comments was consistent. One wrote, “I’d rather see this as a profession that commands respect 365 days a year”, and another wrote, “I don’t know – surely appreciation should go on throughout the year”.
I asked readers to identify the most meaningful indicator of appreciation/recognition their employers could extend to you. Here’s a summary reflecting themes of responses; where respondents offered closely related responses, I’ve blended or combined responses.
- A simple thanks
- Opportunities for professional development/career growth/a training opportunity
- Receiving a long-overdue pay raise/A bonus!/Upgrade of salary!
- Recognition of exceptional work at a difficult time
- Acknowledging it before the team/acknowledging the occasion in front of the office/
- Actual recognition or a token of thanks. Maybe massage gift certificate?
- A thank you when it is justified!
- We don’t celebrate at all. My development is paid for by me.
- Words other than, “You’re doing great”. It’s nice when they add some specifics.
