Ideas to Show Appreciation for National Receptionist Day

Receptionist Day is here and it is a great opportunity to show you appreciate your receptionist. A gift or a show of appreciation, such as a day off, are great ways to celebrate your receptionist. Being a receptionist isn’t as easy and breezy as some may think. Their job requires them to be moving and communicating almost all day, behind the scenes. They have to know the ins and outs of the back end, and sometimes the front end, of the business. They can work with record keeping, funneling potential clients, and managing the flow of information in the office. The entire organization could look to them countless responsibilities.

Being a receptionist is a high-stakes, stressful role that serves as the “front warrior” of a company. This position far exceeds just answering phone calls and making coffee. There are job duties that receptionists have to take on that aren’t obvious to everyone else in the office. For instance, receptionists are usually the first person people see or talk to at the office. Because of this they are usually considered the face of the company, handling intense customer hostility, conducting office “housekeeping,” managing high-volume interruptions, and often being treated as an administrative dumping ground.

National Receptionist Day was created by Jennifer Alexander of the National Receptionists Association in 1991. It was created as a way to show appreciation for all the hard work that receptionists do everyday. It started in the United States, and spread throughout the world over the years. Receptionist Day is now recognized on the second Wednesday of May across the world as a day to express gratitude for the hard work and dedication of receptionists. They play a key role in the smooth operation of businesses and organizations, even when you don’t know it.

Receptionist Work is Not for the Weak

Receptionists frequently are the ones who have to deal with angry or rude clients. All while being required to remain calm and welcoming when most times they are the first point of contact. They often, as discussed on Quora, must endure poor treatment because they represent the company’s PR, sometimes facing high anxiety and stressful situations. There’s a term called the “Gatekeeper” Paradox. This refers to the fact that they are the face of the company and occasionally are treated as a low-status “office mom”.

A Forbes journalist reports about a young receptionist feeling like a servant in the office fielding trivial complaints like broken coffee machines or low office supplies. While also being berated, looked down upon, and a punching bag for upper management and other staff. They play an important role in corporate companies, medical offices, nonprofits, and anywhere you can think. The unique job of a receptionist is not always seen and definitely not always appreciated. 

Receptionist Behind the Scene

You may be familiar with the “standard” duties of receptionists. Taking notes, preparing meetings, handling phone calls, and so forth. However, there’s an invisible workload receptionists have to take on that most people don’t see. Beyond greeting people and making coffee, they sometimes have to roll up their sleeves and take on more duties for the company.

Some receptionists have to manage logistics and order supplies. Others handle paperwork, clean up database, and digitize archived records. There are quite a few receptionists who are responsible for fixing office equipment, cleaning the office, and running errands that office staff are too busy to handle. I personally have seen a lot of receptionists in charge of company catering for meetings, office event decorating, and boosting company morale in other ways.

Receptionists have to handle phone calls from other receptionists, solicitors, and upper management. They have to maintain their professionalism and always use their “phone voice” for every single call. If someone calls to yap or scream into the phone, it doesn’t matter. They have to respond calmly and level-headed. They could be rolling their eyes or rubbing their temple, but with a good receptionist you wouldn’t know.

The Strategy and Development of Receptionists

Along the same lines of concealing emotions, receptionists have to strategize responses to situations and act as a “gatekeeper”. Say a salesman calls to talk to the CEO about using their credit card services or their marketing services. The receptionist may respond by taking down the information and informing them it’ll be passed along when the CEO is not in “meetings”. It’s doubtful it’ll ever get passed along anywhere but the trash. However, the sales rep that calls doesn’t need to know that, so they don’t. The receptionist filters calls that would tie down staff, especially the CEO, so only pertinent information passes.

The one major upside for receptionists is that taking on all those responsibilities makes for a goldmine for professional development. Working in different industries and around different professionals can peak your interest. Many receptionists have gone on to earn certificates and learn the basics of HR, Accounting, or Marketing. Just by assisting those departments with overflow, they pick up skills that allow them to transition to other roles.

From the Mind of a Receptionist

“I’ve had many jobs in the past. I’ve worked as a bartender, a general manager, a sales rep, and even a warehouse manager. That was years ago. After COVID-19 brought the world to a screeching halt. I took a step back and went back to hospitality for a few years. Then I received an unexpected call from a former boss offering me the position of Executive Assistant.

My first reaction was complete doubt, so I confessed. “I’m not good at spreadsheets, I struggle with anything on the backend of the website, and I know I don’t possess all the typical skills an Executive Assistant needs.” Nevertheless, he encouraged me and I ended up taking on this role as the central hub of the office. 

The role of a receptionist is inherently dynamic.. It demands constant engagement and versatility. A typical day is filled with a multitude of responsibilities, ranging from minor acts of assistance for colleagues to the diligent management of larger, time-sensitive projects. This bustling environment ensures that there is never a dull moment. I have heard horror stories of receptionists and am lucky to not have had to deal with that. Everyday isn’t perfect and this isn’t where I saw myself 10 or 15 years ago. But I use it as an opportunity to learn new skills and develop myself.”

Celebrate the Receptionist in Your Life on National Receptionist Day

Showing appreciation for the receptionist in your life should be more frequent than just on National Receptionist Day. There are simple ways to show your appreciation for all that they do for everyone in the office. A simple thank you can go a long way in showing your appreciation. We give you a few key ways to show your appreciation, other than the gratitude for the multitude of tasks completed.

1. Thoughtful gifts: Think flowers, chocolates, or a gift basket. Something that shows you appreciate their effort. A gift card to their favorite restaurant or store is also a great option for National Receptionist Day. This can be a thoughtful way to show your appreciation.
2. Professional development opportunities: Show your commitment to your administrative assistant’s career growth. Offer them the opportunity to attend a professional development course, workshop, or conference. You never know, they may become your next best employee.
3. A day off: Consider giving your administrative assistant the day off or a half day. Show your appreciation for their hard work and dedication. This gives them a chance to destress from the whirlwind of responsibilities they take on daily. It’s a great way to show that you value their contributions and recognize the importance of work-life balance.
4. Handwritten Notes of Appreciation: A handwritten note or card can be a meaningful way to express your gratitude. This shows your administrative assistant that their work is valued and appreciated. Especially if you take the time to actually write something out and not just deliver a thank you card with a signature. Handwritten notes can make for a nice gift that can also be paired with one of the other options.

Celebrate National Receptionist Day

Expressing appreciation for your administrative professionals, as well as your entire workforce, is important. It not only rewards employees for a job well done, but also aids in engaging your employees. It does not have to take a lot of money or time to show true appreciation to your team. Sometimes all it takes is a simple “Thank You” to remind your team that their work is vital to the success of the organization.

Take a moment to express your gratitude for all their hard work and contributions to the success of your organization. It may be their job to complete a certain task or maintain a standard, but that doesn’t mean it should go unnoticed. Every day there’s a receptionist, assistant, or executive assistant quietly working behind the scenes. Show them their effort and role in the company does not go unnoticed and is appreciated!