From signs of genuine respect to the clues that you need to leave
So we´ve come to the end of administrative professionals week, and for some of you the results have been, shall we say, underwhelming. We´ve heard a few horror stories about the sorts of things you´ve received (or not, as the case may be!) and beyond the nuts and bolts of your admin day gift, we wanted to look at what it might actually mean for you and your role.
It´s often been said, by us and just about everyone else, that the administrative roles within corporations are universally the most ignored and undervalued. It says a lot that the most traffic we´ve ever received in a single day came when we published our last minute gift guide for administrative professionals day. Don't get us wrong, free chocolate is universally loved (and secretly devoured with glee by most office workers), but sometimes, that gift basket leaves you feeling more confused than celebrated. Does a new box of gourmet popcorn magically compensate for being perpetually swamped with work and underpaid? Spoiler alert: it absolutely does not.
Let's face it, a single day of forced appreciation feels a bit hollow when it doesn't reflect the reality of your day-to-day experience. Cast your mind back to the pioneering days of the "9-to-5" movement. Those dedicated women, many of them administrative professionals, fought for better working conditions, fair pay, and recognition – not just a single rose once a year. Their rallying cry, "Raises Not Roses," perfectly encapsulates the sentiment. Sure, a thoughtful gift (or frankly any gift) is nice, but it shouldn't be a substitute for genuine respect and fair treatment.
So, let's decode those well-meaning (and sometimes wildly misguided) gifts, and what they might actually say about your workplace.
"The Good" Gifts
The best gifts aren't about a dollar amount. They show thoughtfulness: This is as true in the workplace as it is everywhere else in life. The more we can see that someone has genuinely made the effort to think about what we might actually want, or need, the more impressed we are by it. It´s about more than just being gifted something, it´s about feeling seen. The most expensive gift in the world doesn´t feel special if it isn´t something we actually want, although we´re more likely to go to the effort of exchanging it for something we do want at least.
So what´s a good example of this within the workplace?
The Time-Saver: A subscription that streamlines a task you hate, a fancy new gadget for your desk, anything really that tells you that your concerns have been listened to and your time is respected.
Personalized Touch: Something that aligns with your interests. Shock, horror, you´re a real person with actual likes and dislikes. If you are lucky enough to have the sort of executive who has actually made the effort to you know, have a conversation with you, you may luck out with one of these.
Beyond Trinkets: This ties into the "Raises Not Roses" idea – if a gift card is accompanied by talk of career development, that's a REAL win! No one wants to feel fobbed off or part of a tick box exercise. If there are genuine intentions to recognise your value on this day, and continue it throughout the year, that´s the real appreciation.
"The Bad" Gifts
From the “Worlds Best” mug, to a box of chocolates clearly bought at the last minute to the bunch of flowers that looks like it was the last one left at the garage forecourt, we´ve all received these sorts of “thoughtful” presents. It´s not that you don´t appreciate the gesture, it´s just that it doesn´t really feel like there was a gesture there. It´s more of an afterthought than a thought out process.
When a gift is so badly thought out, you wonder why they even bother, and I get it. It can be almost worse to receive something that feels so dismissive, but it´s not all bad. Now, don´t get me wrong, these sorts of presents suck, BUT at least there was recognition that you should be appreciated, even if the implementation was, shall we say, less than perfect.
"The Ugly"
The less said about this the better. From receiving absolutely nothing, to my personal favourite of receiving a gift card the value of which was then taken out of their paycheck (seriously), nothing says “We don´t care” quite like this. It takes a special sort of organisation to make you feel completely devalued, but the evidence is out there that they exist. And remember, even if you were told to “buy yourself something nice”, having to organise your own gifts in a workplace setting isn´t appreciation, it´s exploitation.
So you´re feeling underappreciated at work- Now what?
Get to the root of it and really look at the signs that your job doesn´t value you. Yes Administrative Professionals Day is just one day per year, but it´s important to look at the deeper correlation within your working environment. If you are usually treated with respect, appreciation and given validation, then this one day a year shouldn´t mean too much. On the flip side, if you were showered with gifts on this one day, but the rest of the year you are overworked, underpaid and undervalued, then I wouldn´t read too much into the bottle of champagne either (even if it is Cristal). The reality is that for most of us, one day a year will not fix an otherwise toxic environment.
So consider whether you´re disappointed in the day, or whether it´s indicative of a wider problem. Being underappreciated at work can have a knock on effect on your whole life, so it´s important to make sure you give it the attention it´s due. If you do decide that actually you are simply being undervalued, then maybe now is a good time to start looking at what you can do to change things. From learning new skills, to negotiating raises, to simply deciding to leave for pastures new, it´s important to remember that you do have choices. As has been famously said, “No one can disrespect you without your permission” so take the time to figure out what respect means to you.
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