# Happy Secretary's Day! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 23, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565 "2003-04-23T12:37:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/1 "2003-04-23T12:37:49Z")
Ah, yes, one of those very silly holidays in which people assuage their guilt with token gestures of appreciation to those they exploit the whole rest of the year (see also: Mother’s Day, Labor’s Day, Earth Day, etc.). But this is not a Pit thread, so no more whining from me. I just wanted to recognize the day, and wish all the best to my fellow long-suffering secretaries, administrative assistants, office coordinators and other assorted staffpeople. Here’s to Post-it notes and paperclips, with which we shall rule the world! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/2 "2003-04-23T12:39:23Z")
Oops. **Labor Day**. No " 's " on that. If I were a GOOD secretary, I’d have proofread. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/3 "2003-04-23T12:56:38Z")
Oh…! You’re a secretary! Well, that explains the pants problem (described in another thread). 😕 ---
**Author:** ![AnnaLucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e95f7d/32.png) [@AnnaLucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnnaLucretia)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/4 "2003-04-23T13:10:14Z")
I got in to work this morning and there was a lovely box of Godiva chocolates and a card on my desk from one of my Directors (incidentally, the only woman in the department). I have only been working in this department for about 2 months, and we just finished a pretty gruelling budget process, so I figured she was just being appreciative. AL (off to guilt trip the 35 MEN for whom I slave) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/5 "2003-04-23T13:16:15Z")
Don’t I get the day off? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/6 "2003-04-23T13:39:34Z")
Well, my clock radio informed me that this is _administrative assistants’_ day. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/7 "2003-04-23T13:39:58Z")
**NoClueBoy** , you are unrelentingly naughty, and it is clear to me now that I should never have mentioned my pantalogical difficulties in your presence. But you make me laugh, so I love you anyway. 😃 **AnnaLucretia** : I’d never have known myself, if my boss hadn’t brought it up. I kind of wish she hadn’t, because now I have to go to lunch with her, which is always incredibly awkward. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/8 "2003-04-23T13:47:55Z")
I worked at a law firm for a couple of years that had staff appreciation _week_. Yes, a whole WEEK to shower us with gifts, food, etc. I still miss all the nice bribery…and nice it was! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/9 "2003-04-23T14:05:16Z")
I share a secretary with two (clueless) attorneys. I ordered [this](http://www.harryanddavid.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=201&prrfnbr=110804) for her. I hope she likes it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/10 "2003-04-23T14:27:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ringo \* > \*\*Well, my clock radio informed me that this is _administrative assistants’_ day. \*\* My calendar also says this. PC at it’s finest. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/11 "2003-04-23T14:29:45Z")
I thought it was now called Administrative Professionals Day. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/12 "2003-04-23T15:05:03Z")
I’m gonna have to agree with **missbunny** on this one, evidently calling someone an assistance is degrading…:rolleyes: Is there anyone out there who is actually offended at being called a secretary? I mean, what about it is not PC? ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/13 "2003-04-23T15:11:58Z")
Call it what you will, is it just me, or is this holiday to remind the low-level workers of their humble status? Once I got a box of chocolates or something from some old guy whose memos I had typed as a favor. I had no idea I was his secretary until he gifted me on Secretary’s Day. The sting of that insult will be with me for a while to come, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/14 "2003-04-23T15:19:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JuanitaTech \* > \*\*I share a secretary with two (clueless) attorneys. I ordered [this](http://www.harryanddavid.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=201&prrfnbr=110804) for her. I hope she likes it. 🙂 \*\* Oooooh, can I be _your_ secretary? Please please please? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/15 "2003-04-23T15:19:34Z")
**bouv** : the term used is irrelevant. It’s the concept of “I serve you; you are served by me” as opposed to “we both serve the organization.” I have no problem with secretaries conceptually; but if that’s what I am, I’d like to be informed in advance, not on Secretaries’ Day with a box of chocolates. Give me a break. The old guy I mentioned was a special case. I took pity on him because he couldn’t use his computer at all. Turns out I had made myself into his secretary, in his mind, and I wasn’t aware of the fact. Until Secretaries’ Day, that is. ---
**Author:** ![AnnaLucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e95f7d/32.png) [@AnnaLucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnnaLucretia)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/16 "2003-04-23T15:55:34Z")
I lobbied HR for over a year to have my title changed to Girl Friday. No one would let me. \ AL PS my Primary Boss (I have 5 on paper, about 40 in practice) has taken to throwing paper airplanes at me every so often today to “show his appreciation”. That ain’t right! ---
**Author:** ![Zenham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a5b964/32.png) [@Zenham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenham)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/17 "2003-04-23T16:12:56Z")
Ugh, I’m stuck in a bad situation. We have two administrative assistants, one of whom is truly and always helpful, while the other one (although yes, I know how INCREDIBLY trying her job is since she is at the front desk, and I’ve had front-line jobs before) is… well, Bad Attitude Personified. How to do this… how to do this… without really offending one or the other, I mean… ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/18 "2003-04-23T16:23:01Z")
Who invented that? Who decided the administrative folks are the ones deserving of special recognition and flowers and stuff? I like our group’s secretary - she’s a nice person. She does her job. We do ours. Yeah, we’re paid more, but as engineers, our job requirements and responsibilities are quite a bit more than hers. So why does she get a special day? Seems to me if the boss-person wants to recognize her contributions, she’s likely to prefer a check over a potted plant or a lunch. After all, when we do good, we get cash awards. Was this instigated by florists and Hallmark?? ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/19 "2003-04-23T16:34:15Z")
I tend to think that the biggest crock o’ shit is “Bosses’ Day.” wtf? it’s not good enough that i slave for you and get paid shit, i have to buy you a present too? riiiight. i’m glad that my boss and i are cool- no gift exchange except xmas and b-days. and that’s usually family oriented. (stuff for our kids or office decor) ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565/20 "2003-04-23T17:11:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by butrscotch \* > \*\*Oooooh, can I be _your_ secretary? Please please please? 😃 \*\* It depends. How good do you look in a short skirt? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-secretarys-day/170565.md?page=2)