Administrative Professionals Day: The People Who Keep Workplaces Moving

April 22, 2026

Celebrating Administrative Professionals Day

Behind every well-run workplace is a layer of work that rarely gets seen. Diaries are coordinated, priorities shift throughout the day, requests are managed, and issues are quietly resolved before most people notice they existed. Administrative Professionals Day is an opportunity to recognise that contribution properly.

To mark Administrative Professionals Day on 22nd April 2026, we spoke with Erin Thornton, HR Administrator at Anabas, about the reality of working in a role that keeps things moving in practice, not just in theory.

Q&A with Erin Thornton

Q: What does a “well-run workplace” look like behind the scenes?

Erin: A well-run workplace feels calm and organised, even when things are busy. Everyone understands their role, priorities are clear, and communication flows naturally between teams.

Q: Which parts of your role tend to go unnoticed day to day?

A lot of admin work happens quietly in the background, from coordinating diaries to picking up small but important tasks that keep things moving. It’s often the things people don’t see, like resolving issues early or keeping everything organised, that make the biggest difference, even if it’s not always visible.

Q: Can you share a moment where you thought, “This is why my role matters”?

Erin: As an admin, tasks that are small for me can be much more time-consuming for others, and that’s when you really see the value of the role. When my colleagues are under pressure, I always offer my support with tasks I’m confident I can handle to help ease the workload.

Q: What really makes or breaks a smooth working day?

Erin: Well, no two days are the same. You need to stay flexible and keep up as priorities change. How you respond in those moments is what keeps things on track.

Q: What might surprise people about your role?

Erin: How much variety and responsibility it involves. You’re constantly switching between tasks, supporting different teams, solving problems, and making sure nothing gets overlooked.

Q: What does Administrative Professionals Day mean to you?

Erin: Administrative Professionals Day is about recognising the people who keep everything running behind the scenes. It highlights the importance of the admin roles that often go unnoticed. The work isn’t always visible, but it plays an essential role in the success of an organisation.

Thank you

At Anabas, we see every day how important this work is in practice. Strong workplaces rely on consistency, communication and attention to detail, often delivered quietly by administrative professionals who keep everything connected and moving.

A thank you to Erin Thornton for sharing her experience, and to all administrative professionals who keep workplaces running every day. Much of what you do happens quietly, but it makes a real difference.