How My AI Assistants Told Me to Show My Appreciation on SysAdmin Day

Oops! Yet another year that we forgot to write a SysAdmin Day article. Considering that we’ve been around for 15 years, that makes us 0 for 15.

Wowie zowie! Has it really been a quarter-century since the first System Administrator Appreciation Day—better known as SysAdmin Day—and did we really miss it again? Apparently, yes, to both.

If this is your first trip to the carnival, SysAdmin Day has been observed every year since 2000 on the last Friday in July, which was yesterday. What it is is a day set aside to recognize the important work of system administrators and IT professionals who maintain and secure computer systems and networks. The not-quite-a-holiday was started by Ted Kekatos, a system administrator, who was inspired by an ad he saw that depicted some coworkers thanking their sysadmin for installing some new hardware.

So, what does one do to celebrate SysAdmin Day? I have absolutely no idea, since I’ve never actually had any kind of close friendship with one, so I turned to the AI assistants here at FOSS Force.

I asked Perplexity first, who returned a pretty short list (not really caring, I guess, that I get paid by the word):

• Bring some cake, pizza, or other treats
• Give cards, small gifts, or tech gadgets
• Public acknowledgments and expressions of gratitude
• Organizing social gatherings or team events
• Sharing thanks on social media using hashtags such as #SysAdminDay

That seemed like a pretty complete list, until I asked Gemini for some suggestions. That list was exhaustive, mainly I figure because Google has a whole boatload… make that shipload of SysAdmins and Gemini has learned the importance of sucking up to them:

Simple Gestures:

• Say “Thank You”: A sincere, in-person thank you can mean a lot.
• Write a Card: A card signed by the team is a nice personal touch.
• Food and Drinks: Pizza, cake, coffee, or other treats are always a welcome gesture.
• Public Recognition: A shout-out on social media or in a company-wide email can give them some well-deserved public praise.

Gifts and Tangible Rewards:

• Tech Gadgets: Many sysadmins are tech enthusiasts and would appreciate things like noise-canceling headphones, a smartwatch, or a portable charger.
• Gift Cards: A gift card to a tech store or a general retailer is a safe bet if you’re unsure what to get.
• Company Swag: Fun items like t-shirts, mugs, or notebooks with the company logo can be a nice gesture.
• Comfort Items: An ergonomic keyboard or mouse can make their long hours at the computer more comfortable.

More Significant Ways to Show Appreciation:

• Time Off: Extra paid time off is a valuable gift.
• Professional Development: Offer to pay for online courses, certifications, or conference attendance to support their career growth.
• Office Makeover: Upgrade their workspace with new furniture or better equipment.
• Make Their Job Easier: Following security policies, cleaning up your files, and submitting detailed trouble tickets can make a big difference in their workload.

If I may be excused for using the term “wowie zowie” twice in the same article, wowie zowie! That’s a long list. Suddenly I’m wishing I had one of these magical SysAdmin people to heap praises upon.

But, maybe it’s a good thing I don’t. If I did, I’d have to be stopping by the Dollar Tree on my way to work on Monday, to see if they carry Belated Happy SysAdmin Day cards.

Christine Hall

Christine Hall has been a journalist since 1971. In 2001, she began writing a weekly consumer computer column and started covering Linux and FOSS in 2002 after making the switch to GNU/Linux. Follow her on Twitter: @BrideOfLinux

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