🔑 Key takeaways:
Mark your calendars: Administrative Professionals’ Day falls on Wednesday of the last full week of April (April 23, 2025 in the US & Canada).
Consider digital gift cards for all your employee gifts: No hidden fees, instant delivery, and ultimate flexibility—recipients choose what they really want.
Curate & personalize: Blend coffee cards with quirky mugs, spa cards with scented candles, or a book gift card with a pretty bookmark. 'Digital' can still be very unique and very thoughtful.
Instant gratitude: Create a free account and Send in just a few clicks—schedule, personalize, and integrate with your favorite apps in minutes.
Scrambling for Administrative Professionals' Day gift ideas? Presumably ones that are easy and affordable for you, fun and delightful for the person you’re giving it to? This article’s got you covered (jump to the gift ideas now).
Choosing a great gift is an easy way to express genuine gratitude for those often unsung office heroes who keep our workdays running smoothly. Whether it’s for Admin Professionals’ Day (on April 23 in 2025), or for employee recognition efforts throughout the year, even small gestures can strengthen company culture and employee engagement.
In this article, we'll share our favorite Administrative Professionals’ Day gift ideas–all of which you could send to someone on your staff today (or even in the next ten minutes).
These practical suggestions will let you bring a modern twist to traditional employee appreciation. Expect fresh digital options, plus tips to add smart, personal touches as needed.
How (and why) to celebrate Administrative Professionals' Day
Like you’ve probably assumed, Administrative Professionals’ Day (sometimes called Admins’ Day or Secretaries Day) is dedicated to recognizing the work of administrative assistants of all sorts—receptionists, secretaries, executive assistants, personal assistants, client service reps, and anyone else who might find themselves on your admin team.
This special day has several names, and it also has several actual dates. Namely:
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In the US and Canada, celebrate on the Wednesday in the last full week of April (April 23 in 2025)
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In Australia, celebrate on the first Friday in May (May 9 in 2025)
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In Brazil, celebrate on September 30
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In South Africa, celebrate on the first Wednesday in September (September 3 in 2025)
Administrative Professionals’ Day started as a full week back in 1952, when it was focused entirely on secretaries. Since then, the complexity of administrative work has grown, along with our understanding of the importance of these roles.
Regardless, recognizing and rewarding your administrative professionals can help boost morale and strengthen team spirit. Indeed, the latest research shows that 89% of employees say rewards help them feel valued and appreciated.
No doubt, employee rewards have significant impacts on engagement and retention. For example, according to Gallup research, employees that don’t feel like they’re recognized are twice as likely to say they’re planning to quit.
Meanwhile, companies with good employee recognition programs enjoy 12 times better business outcomes (likely due in large part to their employees feeling 2.7 times more likely to be highly engaged).
So go ahead and add Admins Day to your HR calendar.
Plan celebrations that reflect your company culture and values.
Consider modern, flexible options like digital gift cards to make this a better day for everyone involved (you included!).
And remember that celebrating your admin team should always start with genuine appreciation. The more you’re able to build a culture centered around shared cultural principles that you honor year round, the more all your staff will feel connected and valued.
FAQs
How do you celebrate Administrative Professionals' Day?
An easy way to celebrate is with a personalized digital gift card. This is a versatile way to say thank you—it’s thoughtful, flexible, and easy to send, even if you’re remote. Pair it with a handwritten note, public recognition (a shoutout over Slack always goes over well), or a small team celebration to make your admin professionals feel even more seen and valued. The goal is simple: show that their work matters.
How much should you spend on employee gifts?
According to Fierv 2024 data, 56% of employees think at least $100 is a good amount for a gift card. The same research also highlights that 62% of employers increased their employee rewards budgets in 2024.
That said, there's no one-size-fits-all-gifts when it comes to setting a budget. Even smaller gifts can demonstrate appreciation.
Digital corporate gifts: a fresh, easy new option for Admin Day Gifts (and more)
Forget the overpriced flowers. Stop stuffing boxes of cheap chocolates into fancy gift bags. The best corporate gifts for everyone on your team are digital. 📱
Using digital gift cards lets you send something that will delight your recipient, without the hassle of coordinating physical gifts. They’re a fast, flexible solution that lets recipients choose something for themselves that they really, really want.
Digital rewards are rising in popularity because they make showing appreciation so quick and modern. Specifically, go with digital gift cards and you’ll enjoy:
There's no markup.
Don’t ‘pay up’ to send swag and physical gifts that you’re not sure anyone wants in the first place. Assuming you work with a gift card distributor with transparent pricing, the amount you set for your gift card will be the exact same amount your employee received. Send a $25 Amazon gift card, for example, and your employee will get a $25 Amazon gift card.
Better still, many gift card platforms are free to use, and Giftbit doesn’t set minimums or require exclusivity contracts, either.
They're easy to send.
Again, assuming you’re working with the right company, gift card distribution is quick and easy—it should only take you a few clicks. Send cards via email or text, schedule delivery, send bulk orders if you like, and even add personalized messages—all without any physical printing or shipping hassles.
This streamlined process saves time and dramatically reduces administrative overhead. Plus, simple gift card integrations let you bake sending right into the apps you’re already using (like Slack, BambooHR, and PandaDoc).
They're easy to scale.
The same platform you use for Admin Day gifts can extend to all types of employee rewards—whether it’s celebrating work anniversaries, recognizing outstanding performance, or giving everyone a team lunch (popular for remote teams). Use Team Accounts, and even other departments can use the platform—gift cards make great marketing incentives, sales incentives, survey incentives, and global payouts, too.
Better still, the more you send, the more you have the potential to save. Giftbit makes it easy to send in bulk, along with bulk discounts and revenue sharing for larger programs. Book a call with our team to learn more.
They're more eco-friendly.
Electronic rewards eliminate the need for packaging, shipping, and extra waste. They’re a greener option that helps reduce your organization’s overall carbon footprint.
They’re global.
If you’ve ever tried sourcing and sending gifts to employees in different countries, you know what an unmitigated pain in the rear this can be. 😉 So if you have hybrid and/or remote employees, you owe it to yourself to explore international eGift cards.
For example, the Giftbit global employee rewards catalog makes it easy to send great gifts to staff in other countries. The USD Virtual Prepaid Mastercard® in particular works well for global rewards programs, because it can be sent and spent anywhere in the world that accepts Mastercard.
They’re what employees actually want.
Worried that everyone would rather have something they could unwrap? Don’t be. Studies repeatedly show that most employees prefer digital gift cards over other rewards.
For example, according to Fiserv research, 86% of employees think gift cards are great incentives. Why? 79% said they loved the purchasing flexibility, while 64% loved how easy they are to redeem and use.
They’re easy to personalize.
Don’t assume that ‘digital’ has to mean ‘impersonal.’ Many gift card companies will allow you to create customized templates and brand selections, along with the ability to add a custom message.
Giftbit offers even further ways to customize your orders, down to your delivery method (whether you prefer gift card email delivery, sending via text or DM, or something else).
We’ll cover more ways to make digital gifts feel special in the rest of this article.
👀 Looking for more ways to celebrate your staff? See here: Special Days Every HR Team Should Have In Their HR Calendar
Give personalized gifts
Don’t worry. You can still gift those classic flowers or chocolates if you really want. Adding a digital gift card to the eCard just sweetens the pot.
In fact, we often recommend pairing a digital gift card with either a small physical gift or a public shout-out. This mix shows you care with a thoughtful, tangible token, while still giving your recipient the freedom to choose a favorite treat. It's a smart, personal way to celebrate their day.
“Digital gift cards are flexible enough that you can always create the right moment for the person you’re giving it to,” says Nat Salvione, Giftbit CCO.
Quick, personalized Administrative Professionals' Day gift ideas (bonus: they work for all staff!)
The Giftbit rewards catalog is filled with nearly 1000 of the most popular brands and retailers in the world. Translation: there’s something for everyone, and for virtually any type of gift or reward you’d like to offer.
You might decide to give your admin staff a gift card with full recipient choice. That means you’ll be giving them the opportunity to pick whatever reward they want.
That said, sometimes you might want to send a more personalized gift, and give your reward a little theme. For example, Molly Quinn, Managing Director of Marketing & Communications at Distinctive Schools, often likes to give her teachers a Starbucks gift card before meetings, so they can treat themselves to a cup of coffee.
“Teachers love coffee, so that’s easy!” she says. “Even just a cup of coffee has been a nice gesture.”
The following are some great gift card choices for admin and staff gifts.
We’ll also include suggestions for some physical accompaniments you might choose, for those times you want to add-on something tangible.
1. A cup of coffee … for the rest of the month
Give someone a small Starbucks gift card, and you’ll be treating them to a small cup of coffee—everyone loves a free cup of joe.
But give them a $50 coffee card, and you’ll be fueling their morning routines for a month. Pair with a quirky mug to make it more personal.
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Popular coffee options include Dunkin’, Peet’s Coffee, and Starbucks. 🥤
2. A little getaway
Nothing says relaxation like a vacation. Work with an admin professional who loves to explore and see the world or relax in the sun?
A hotel or airline gift card can be the perfect gift. Even a $200 travel gift card gives a taste of escape for the hard worker, but note that you can send travel incentives up to $2500.
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Popular travel incentives include Air Canada, Airbnb, Amtrak, Best Western, Carnival Cruise Lines, Hotels.com, and Southwest Airlines. 🏖️
3. A spa day
Who doesn’t want a day at the spa? Administrative staff work long, stressful days, so a spa gift card allows them to get away from it all and truly relax. Add a scented candle or new yoga mat for extra relaxation.
Allow your recipient to choose their preferred spa with a Spa & Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week, which is accepted at over 8,000 spas across North America. 💆🏻♀️
4. A charity donation
A $25 gift card to Charity on Top or CharityChoice lets them support a cause they care about. For an added bonus, perhaps you’ll match their donation in kind, or give it a shout out on your socials. 🎗️
5. The latest and greatest
Does the admin professional in your life always have the latest tech gadgets? A gift card from Apple, Best Buy, or GameStop will let them choose from thousands of items with a card denomination that fits your budget. 🕹️
5. A night out
Give your hard working admin staff a chance to enjoy an evening on the town. A well-chosen gift card lets them treat themselves to either a tasty meal or a cinematic adventure that breaks the routine. For example, a $75 gift card to a nice restaurant lets them enjoy a great meal, while a movie gift card offers a fun night at the cinema, complete with popcorn.
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Popular restaurant picks include Applebee’s, California Pizza Ktichen, Five Guys, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, The Cheesecake Factory, and Zaxby’s.
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Popular cinema gift cards include AMC Theatres, Cinemark, and Fandango. 🍿
6. A night in
Alternatively, you might choose to gift a cozy night at home, with food delivery and a relaxing evening of streaming or gaming. To make the night extra memorable, consider adding a tangible token—such as a plush blanket or a pair of comfortable slippers—to create a complete feel-good package.
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Popular food delivery choices include Uber Eats, DoorDash, and GrubHub.
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For gaming, consider gift cards from options like EA Play, Google Play, PlayStation Store, Roblox, or Xbox Game Pass.
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Popular streaming services include Hulu and Paramount+. Learn more using gift cards for subscription services here. 📺
7. A night in–bookworm’s edition
See that your secretary always has his nose in a book during breaks? Show him you pay attention and let him pick out a new book, all at once. Pair it with a thoughtfully chosen bookmark to add a personal touch.
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Popular choices for book gift cards include Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indigo. 📖
8. Outfit their desk
Every workspace could use an upgrade, especially if you work from home. Even if your company offers stipends to cover work supplies, that likely doesn’t cover all the fancy extra ‘stuff’ that personalizes a desk. So even a $40 card for office supplies or tech might let them enjoy that ergonomic accessory, sleek organizer, bougie candle, or handy gadget they’ve been eyeing.
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Popular places to find office supplies, tech upgrades, and small decor include Best Buy, Staples, The Container Supply, Walmart, and Yankee Candle. 🧑🏽💻
9. Outfit their Home
Similarly, everyone appreciates a space that feels uniquely theirs. A $75-100 home decor gift card can help your recipient transform their living area with a personal accent. Or, if you know they’re renovating, alleviate their budget with a gift card for supplies.
Whenever you’re giving something for a home or workspace, consider mixing in a small houseplant–it’s an easy way to brighten someone’s day.
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Popular options to help your recipients spruce up their homes include Crate & Barrel, Etsy, HomeGoods, Ikea, Target, The Home Depot, and Wayfair. 🏠
10. Outfit their closet
Fashionista on your staff? A well-chosen card to a favorite clothing store gives them the freedom to pick items that match their style.
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Popular clothing gift cards include Banana Republic, DSW, Gap, H&M, Land’s End, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Poshmark. 🛍️
11. Support their new hobby
A $50 gift card for a hobby store can kickstart a new passion. It’s a fun way to back their personal interests.
Don’t be afraid to get specific! If you know they’re into golf, get them golfing gift cards! If they’re budding photographers, consider Shutterfly. If they’re always talking about their pets, maybe they’re prefer something like Chewy or PetSmart.
Remember, this is meant to be about genuine appreciation. Taking the time to send a thoughtful gift card that aligns with their likes and interests also shows that you actually care about those likes and interests, too.❤️
12. Lunch for everyone
Finally, what if you took Admins Day as an opportunity to celebrate with the entire office? This is a great option for remote teams–in fact, it’s something we regularly enjoy here at Giftbit. Everyone gets a gift card for food delivery. Then everyone orders lunch at the same time, and jumps on a video call together. It’s a fun, easy way to stay connected.
And who doesn’t love a free lunch??? 🥪
13. Support local businesses
These days, many of us care about supporting local businesses, with good reason. Giving your staff a prepaid virtual Mastercard® will let them buy something anywhere locally (and online, globally, for that matter) that Mastercard is accepted.
This would also be a great opportunity to pair their prepaid card with local treats, like flowers, chocolates, cookies and cupcakes, or maybe a whole gift basket. 💐
14. The gift of full choice
Like we’ve covered, giving a gift card to a specific brand or a curated list is a great way to show that you’ve put some thought into the recipient and what they might like.
That said, Giftbit clients always have the option to offer full recipient choice. That means you can let your recipients choose exactly what brand they want from the entire, massive reward catalog. It’s a fun option that’s growing in popularity, thanks to the level of choice that many people now expect.
Of course, all these options (and many more brands) are available through Giftbit’s easy-to-use gift card platform.
Bonus! If your administrative professional already manages corporate gifting or employee retention incentive, you’ll also be giving them a gift if you introduce Giftbit, a B2B marketplace for easily purchasing and sending bulk digital gift cards.
How do you thank your administrative assistants?
Any day can be a team celebration day–you don’t need to wait for something like Administrative Professionals Day to kick things off.
So consider these unique gift ideas to show appreciation for the admin professionals in your life all year round.
Giftbit is so intuitive and quick to set up, you can easily create a free account now and get your Administrative Professionals’ Day gifts ready. Book a quick chat with our team if you’ve got any questions.
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Employee Rewards