• We usually have an educational conference during the morning, then a special recognition lunch with our bosses.

• One manager takes me out to lunch and one gives a gift

• Usually a seminar and a lunch

• Company provides program or training for all admin/support staff with guest speakers.

• Each department does there own thing, one year I got flowers, one year I got gift certificates and movie tickets.
   

• Our company pays for a training seminar for admin staff.  We also receive a company-wide memo from our CEO.

• Office Administrator will set up luncheon to celebrate occasion.

• Lunch, flowers, cards....no really big deal

• Whole staff appreciated with a lunch (which the Admin coordinates)

• My boss gives all administrative staff flowers (all women) with greeting card attached
   

• It’s up to individual managers if they want to recognize the person/day.

• Received a $100.00 gift certificate

• Luncheon Program (with speaker) for administrative professionals and their supervisors (supervisors give gifts, etc.)

• Most of us support multiple managers, they choose if they want to recognize us or not. Years ago, it was company-wide recognition.

• Program, luncheon and gifts from all supervisors to their administrative staff
   

• Plants are put on each admin.'s desk.

• Employer took all Administrative Assistants to lunch

• We have a Luncheon/Awards Program w/training in the afternoon

• We received flowers from the site supervisor and pictures and cards from our direct supervisor.

• The administrative professionals are invited to attend educational seminars. Topics are selected by the administrative staff themselves.
   

• The CEO takes us out to lunch.

• The firm usually provides some sort of small recognition gift.

• Employer claims staff recognized year round.

• Company pays for us to attend APD luncheon/seminar if we choose

• Co. has given logo items, such as paperweights and clocks w/company logo, the past 2 years. Also, individual execs send flowers and/or take admin to lunch.
   

• Each manager can choose to recognize his/her administrative professional. There is not a company-wide recognition in place.

• At our University, the Chancellor hosted a nice reception for all administrative support staff; in earlier years we also received a small gift.

• The office manager buys the same flowers for everyone and has them delivered in bulk to her secretary who distributes them - not the personal touch at all
  Given two hours off with pay to be taken anytime during the next year. Usually the time is not taken and the compensation is not provided.

• Guest speakers and gifts for the secretaries.

• Have also received various gifts, such as a briefcase

• I actually purchased my own flowers/balloons last year (my executives forgot). They reimbursed me, though, and took me to a baseball game at a later date.

• I always invite all execs and their admins to my IAAP chapter’s APW celebration; not all participate.

2. How would you most prefer to observe APW?

• Some sort of recognition more valuable than candy or flowers!

• Not sure what I'd like, probably anything as it is sincere and the individual isn't forced to participate. Being forced loses something in the process.

• My bosses are great at encouragement throughout year.

• I would prefer a comp day to be used at my leisure.

• I like attending IAAP seminar and luncheon as is done now.
   

• Just a sincere thank-you note would be nice.

• One day seminar on various topics with vendors available.

• In-Training Day/Workshop.

• I would like to see several of the options combined, departmental recognition and some kind of company wide event or notice.

• A bonus because of the hard work I do and because I keep my supervisors out of hot water all of the time.
   

• Our managers receive annual bonuses for accomplishments; we should receive a bonus or monetary award for outstanding accomplishments and/or contributions.

• Special event - educational/motivational speaker.

• I've gotten a lot of recognition as part of the team, so I am happy.

• Seminars geared toward profession or PC training.

• Company-funded training opportunities.

• Card of thanks is especially nice, and I advocated in my performance review this year for an increased training budget for me and my staff

• Computer or Human Resources related seminar

• All women in office are treated to flowers, but men aren't - We have some CA's and a Planner who get flowers as well, but not the male co-workers.

• Computer Software or Time Management Seminar
   

• Administrative assistants are rarely given time off. This would be a nice gesture of appreciation.

• A seminar on any variety of topics of interest to administrative professionals.

• A day out - giving recognition to the Admin staff for all the wonderful works, lunch & gift (preferably monetary).

• A day off is always great, but not realistic. Company wide recognition is nice but I like to keep things simple so as to not interfere with my work and scheduled deadlines.

• I don't need a day to thank me for my work. I consider myself part of a team; not an admin set apart from everyone else. I like the support given to me throughout the year both in bonuses and I don't get paid for overtime, so any time off to compensate for this is always greatly appreciated.
   

• I do like receiving a card or flowers but would also like to have a chance to update my skills.

• Gift Certificate.

• Funding for recognition provided by company; not my boss!

• Company-wide announcement of the week with all the administrative staff listed in the announcement.

• Events that would let the other staff know exactly how much an admin does in the course of a day.
   

• I don't believe in this week/day observation.

• Day away from office environment to network with other administrative professionals.

• Course on computers, web site design, etc.

• Conference geared to meeting planning, technical writing, etc.
   

• Flowers with a note of thanks enclosed.

• Would rather them allow me to attend more seminars and other professional development activities on their budget rather than mine.

• Training that enhances our value in the workplace by upgrading or adding new skills.

• Would like professionals to treat us like better all year and dispense with this day!

• Workshop or seminar that would advance my skills.

3 . To what extent does your supervisor use your skills?

• I am more involved in long-term project work.

• My executive supports, encourages, and stimulates my professional growth and development.

• New manager assigns much more challenging tasks than previous manager.

• Needed to learn Microsoft Access to build a database for the department.
   

• Need to get more comfortable with Excel and other software programs to set up better databases/charts.

• My supervisor changed recently and she is making more use of my skills than my previous supervisor (male).

• My Manager has confidence in me and sometimes assigns part of his duties to me.

• New programs and technology encourages me to learn more.

• My company is still in the dark ages when it comes to secretaries and administrative staff.
   

• My boss doesn't know how to keep me busy…I find the younger managers are used to doing things for themselves.

• More involvement on the "executive" level decision making process.

• My executive is always challenging me to reach a new level.

• Mergers have required new ways of doing business, requiring me to learn new software and new uses for existing software.

• Learning to work smarter - not harder!

• Most of my skills are not utilized. I could do so much more for the office! And I would like to be able to do so.
   

• Working exclusively alone on different computer programs.

• Web site building and developments

• They assign me work I have no clue about and I research and complete the task within the time frame given. This is difficult to do, but I love a challenge.

• Opportunities in graphic design

• The only skill they value is word processing and answering phones.
   

• Supporting Partner In Charge demands high organization, professional, and technical skills.

• Since my boss is very knowledgeable of technology, she tends to do most of memos and presentations herself... I'm too very good with technology, but I think It’s the way she works.

• My job was newly created when I took it on and it has been expanding with new duties that were unforeseen at the beginning.

• Preparation of Presentation material.
   

• There are more office tasks that can be delegated to me to take care of.

• Finally, I am fully empowered and enthusiastic about my career!

• I am given responsibilities but the outcome I present them with is far beyond what they had anticipated from me. I am finally in a position that allows me to use my skills and artistic talents.

• I am given many projects outside of the "normal" secretarial duties.

• I am a Certified Professional Secretary. Even though I received monetary awards, the company is not utilizing my skills.
   

• I actually manage my bosses’ work.

• HR requirements for the department; Customer Focus activities.

• He uses every ounce of my abilities and encourages me to expand my skill set.

• My executive is a micro manager who is afraid of losing control.

• I am on a committee to help developing a Career Development Plan and my manager does give us opportunities to volunteer for special projects and assignments.
   

• I have capabilities not being fully utilized.

• Being new to the legal department, the work assignment are mostly legal research.

• Conduct searches on internet, coordinate information inside & outside, judgment to notify him of serious situations, develop relationships with outside business partners.

• Because I am always asking for new opportunities, my employer has been providing them to me.
   

• My manager has requested/allowed me to expand my responsibilities.

• Always enhancing my skills.

• A member of the manager "team" - I participate in staff meeting and "special" projects that may come along.

• Have recently been promoted to office manager.

• I work in an I/T department and utilize a tremendous amount of computer skills for projects.

• I'd like to be more involved in the long-term goals of the department.

• I develop new brochures, maintain database info, etc.

• I am taking an Intermediate Microsoft Access class in order to be able to better manage our mailing list.

• I would like the opportunity to learn and use more computer skills. More training provided by my business.
   

• I am the most experienced admin he's ever had, so he's still adjusting to what I can do.

• I work in a "good ol' boy" system - women are simply tolerated.

• I work for a very demanding boss who is a perfectionist.

• I want to learn more accounting/budgeting functions

• I volunteer to assist on other projects for other staff.
   

• I take on new responsibilities on my own without management direction.

• I like to work on special projects.

• I just moved into this area from another one in my firm, so everything is still new to me.

• I have found it necessary to become much more proficient in the use of computer programs (example -advanced Excel techniques), use of the Internet and scanning documents.

• I am working with staff in my branch and being involved in some planning with the strategic planning. Proofreading papers for grammar, punctuation and spelling.
   

• I seek work challenges to expand my own interests and skill levels to further help my department, manager etc.

• I would like to be more challenged and change my job scope a bit.

• I continually stretch to meet the demands of my job, creating my own boundaries and learning specific applications for the programs I work with.

5 . What has been the greatest change in your job in the last three years?

• My job has grown to include managers from other districts that require "managing up"

• My duties incorporate some skills that the product managers are required to do as part of their job. I also do these things, so I feel at times, they need to give us a different job classification.

• More managers to support, more responsibility, more independent thinking.

• My office has only one admin - me!
   

• More high tech skills required

• With budget cuts, we're all trying pick up the slack.

• Knowledge of more software programs

• More responsibilities, same pay. They are starting to hire again but still no promotion.

• I took on a new job with not quite clear boundaries of duties expected.
   

• When re-engineering occurs the workload increases, and of course more responsibilities follow.

• Web publishing responsibilities

• The manager trusts me to make decisions on behalf of our organization.

• Using my proofreading skills in research papers that are used or submitted at the end of a project.

• Projects with a specified outcome were given with the implementation left up to me.
   

• The ability to work independently, time management and an excellent memory is required

• Supervisor is part-time, therefore the responsibility of carrying out my office duties has increased

• Specialized soft-ware applications and mastering global communications

• Software programs-Excel, Access, e-mail, etc.

• Since the company places more value on Tech skills, they've ignored other vital skills. I find myself having to train others in that area.
   

• Reorganization by outsourcing work to recently established subsidiary companies.

• After earning my CPS certification, I was promoted to management level, supervising 5 administrative professionals. It's a new position with new company. I need to think more independently to assist managers.

• My boss is traveling a lot more, so I practically run the office while he is away.
  Advanced computer skills are definitely important these days.

• Anymore, one person will do the job that two or three people did.

• I was asked to build a database for the department tracking.

• Because my boss travels a lot I have had to assume more responsibilities.

• Coordinating meetings, events and travel

• Coordination to relieve management team

• More database applications

• Due to budget difficulties staff was cut, I've had to assume work of two other people.
   

• Employees are being required to take courses within the company for professional development to keep up with the constant changes in technology

• I've learned to do a lot more computer programming and have taken a number of computer classes.

• Admin professionals continue to be "stretched" far too thin...a lot of pressure, too many 12+ hour days, not sufficient recognition for the contributions we make to organizations as a whole.

• I established an organizational newsletter

• I work for a litigation attorney, so learning the litigation process itself has been a challenge.
   

• I am given a research project to complete without my boss watching over my shoulders

• I have a more advanced position than I had last year, and also I am training someone to do my old job.

• I assumed a new position last year with completely different responsibilities.

• I must often figure out how to set up and carry out projects on my own, especially advance Excel worksheets since I am the only one who knows how to use the program in the office.

• I have a new boss and her management style is very different from my old boss who retired.

• My boss travels a lot and I am responsible to conduct business in his absence. He relies on my to make good business decisions. I alert him to situations that I cannot handle.