Administrative Professionals Week is a celebration that started out in 1952 as National Secretaries Week. Originally created to encourage interest in careers in the secretarial field, its name was changed in 1981 to Professional Secretary's Week, and in 2000, was again changed to Administrative Professionals Week. This latest name change was done so that other support staff members, such as receptionists, administrative assistants, and other support professionals could be honored along with the secretaries.Historically, many of these support positions, such as secretaries and receptionists, were held by women. Although many women today still perform these various duties, it is becoming more common to see men in these positions as well. So, the gifts that were traditionally given to secretaries in years past, such as bouquets of flowers, might not be the best gift to give to your administrative professional if he happens to be a man.Administrative Professionals Week, a registered trademark of the International Association of Administrative Professionals , is being celebrated this year during the week of April 18th through the 24th, with Administrative Professionals Day being held on Wednesday, April 21st, 2010. It is during these dates that we are honoring those who help us get our jobs done, by managing many tasks that can slow business owners and other professionals down during the work day. As a way to show these special employees some recognition and appreciation for all that they do, here are some safe gift ideas that can be given to secretaries, administrative assistants, office managers, and many other support staff that are included under the "Administrative Professionals" title.First, since so many of us are now health conscious, rather than a box of candy, a better option would be a fruit basket. Even better would be an organic fruit basket(Free shipping too), since organic fruits have been shown to be higher in vitamins and nutrients than their traditionally-grown counterparts. These will be much-appreciated thank-you giftsand are extremely easy, delivered straight to the office, no fuss As a boss, you will be showing your support staff members that you not only are thankful for their hard work, but that you care about their well-being also.Another group of safe gift ideas for all administrative professionals are items for their desks or workspaces. These items include, but are by no means limited to, perpetual calendars, desktop dish gardens, ecospheres, journals, drink warmers (for coffee and teas) or chillers (for water or other cool drinks), insulated travel mugs or water bottles, or personalized stationary or sticky notes. Also in this category, you might consider purchasing for your secretary, receptionist, administrative assistant or other professional, some ergonomic accessories for their keyboard, mouse pad, or office chair. Any of the items in this category let your professional know they are appreciated, while at the same time, helping their office space to be more comfortable and work-conducive.During these difficult economic times, another great gift would be a gift card to somewhere practical, like a grocery or department store. However, if you think your assistant needs some time to spoil themselves, you might want to opt for a gift certificate for a massage. That is something they might not be able to do on a regular week, but might enjoy on this special occasion.No matter which gifts you choose, just be sure to do something for your support staff this year for Administrative Professionals Week. These employees work hard all year long and help your business to function more smoothly. A special thank-you and recognition of their hard work will help them to know that they are appreciated and that is all that many of us want: to know we are appreciated and are needed.