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International Virtual Assistants Day

Boost awareness about the role of virtual assistants in the world of business, a gig often taken by freelancers that keeps the business community running.

Administrators Jobs & Professions Science & Technology42

Marketing angleinferred

Position your VA services or productivity tools as the solution to overworked entrepreneurs on a day celebrating remote support workers.

Relevance 42medium intent

'5 Tasks Your VA Can Handle So You Don't Have To' — educational content for busy founders
Spotlight campaign: 'Meet Our VAs' — humanize remote workers and showcase client success stories
Gift guide for VA appreciation: virtual gift cards, productivity software, or wellness packages
Webinar: 'Should You Hire a Virtual Assistant?' — drive leads from small business owners

History

Because of the nature of their jobs, virtual assistants usually make extensive use of the latest technology, mostly the internet, to undertake their duties from a remote location. Tasks might include taking phone calls, answering emails, making appointments, and carrying out online research.

Because they don’t work for their clients or employers in person, it’s easy to overlook these support people. While it might be natural to thank an assistant in person by buying them a cup of coffee or taking them out to lunch, a virtual assistant tends to go unnoticed and miss out on these opportunities.

International Virtual Assistants Day is a day set aside to acknowledge the effort, determination, and commitment of these virtual assistants! The Alliance for Virtual Businesses sponsors the day, and the Online Virtual Assistants Convention hosts the celebrations.

The Alliance for Virtual Businesses, which is composed of a team of virtual professionals as the originator of this day, which is usually celebrated annually on every third Friday of the month of May. Its main purpose is usually to raise awareness about virtual assistants’ services in the business community.

How to celebrate

Get a Gift For Your Virtual Assistant

If you know them pretty well and know what they like, it might be nice to get them a gift in honor of International Virtual Assistants Day. It would be nice to have a gift basket or hamper delivered to them. This process is a bit easier if they live in the same region as you, but can get a bit more complicated if they live across the world. In this case, perhaps a virtual gift card purchased for an online company in their region would be a good bet. It doesn’t have to be a surprise, so ask them what they enjoy and try to accommodate their interests!

Raise Awareness for Virtual Assistants

One of the purposes of International Virtual Assistants Day is to raise awareness for the ways that virtual assistants are able to help improve the lives of businesspeople all over the world. Those who work in the corporate world or small businesses alike can use their sphere of influence to promote the idea, start conversations, shed some light on what it’s like, and perhaps even answer questions to help others become more aware of and interested in the concept of virtual assistants.

Hire a Virtual Assistant

Are you finding it hard to get everything done in life for a small business or corporation? It makes a lot of sense to consider hiring a virtual assistant to perform various tasks that are keeping you from more important things. Do a bit of research through the Alliance for Virtual Businesses and find out more!

Give Virtual Assistants Some Time Off

Since International Virtual Assistants Day always falls on a Friday, perhaps it would be a good idea to give that virtual assistant a bit of paid time off so they can get their weekend started early. Or a little bonus added to their paycheck would certainly be a well-received gift of appreciation.

FAQ

What kinds of tasks can a human virtual assistant handle beyond basic email and scheduling?

Human virtual assistants often support a wide range of business operations, not just inbox management and calendars. Many handle customer service, bookkeeping, social media management, travel planning, document preparation, project coordination, basic marketing support, and online research. Some specialize further in areas such as podcast production, e‑commerce store management, real estate support, or executive-level assistance. The exact task list depends on the assistant’s skills and the client’s industry, but their role typically blends administrative, operational, and sometimes creative work.

How is a virtual assistant different from an employee who works remotely?

A virtual assistant is usually an independent contractor rather than a salaried employee. That means the client typically does not provide benefits, office equipment, or long-term job security, and the assistant is responsible for their own taxes, tools, and training. Remote employees, by contrast, are on the company’s payroll, follow internal HR policies, and often receive benefits and more direct supervision. Because virtual assistants are contractors, businesses can scale their hours up or down more flexibly, but must also manage clear contracts, scopes of work, and deliverables.

What is the difference between a human virtual assistant and an AI assistant or chatbot?

A human virtual assistant is a real person who can use judgment, context, and interpersonal skills to manage complex tasks, build relationships, and solve problems that are not easily standardized. AI assistants and chatbots are software tools that automate repetitive or rules-based tasks, such as answering FAQs, routing simple requests, or drafting basic communications. In practice, many businesses use both: AI for high-volume, predictable work, and human virtual assistants for nuanced tasks that require discretion, creativity, and emotional intelligence.

How can a business decide what to delegate to a virtual assistant without losing control?

Experts suggest starting by tracking daily activities for one to two weeks and ranking tasks by impact and required expertise. Low-risk, repeatable tasks with clear instructions are good candidates to delegate first, such as appointment booking, standard email responses, data entry, or routine reporting. High-stakes or strategic decisions should stay with the business owner but can be supported by the assistant’s research or preparation. Clear standard operating procedures, written guidelines, and measurable outcomes help maintain control while freeing up time for higher-level work.

What privacy and security steps are important when working with a virtual assistant?

When sharing sensitive information with a virtual assistant, businesses should follow basic security practices used with any remote worker. This can include using strong access controls and unique logins, limiting permissions to what is truly necessary, enabling multifactor authentication on key accounts, and using secure password managers instead of sending credentials by email. Non-disclosure agreements and clear written policies on data handling are also common. Many companies create separate user accounts or sandboxed environments to reduce risk while still allowing the assistant to work effectively.

Do labor and tax rules for hiring virtual assistants differ across countries?

Yes. Rules around independent contracting, taxation, and worker protections vary significantly from one country to another. Some jurisdictions have strict criteria that distinguish independent contractors from employees, and misclassification can result in penalties. When hiring a virtual assistant across borders, businesses may need to consider international tax obligations, data protection laws, and local labor standards. Many organizations consult legal or tax professionals or use global employment and contractor platforms to stay compliant with cross-border regulations.

What skills help human virtual assistants stay competitive as technology changes?

Human virtual assistants benefit from building strong communication and writing skills, time management, and comfort with common business software and collaboration tools. As automation expands, skills that are harder to replicate with software become more valuable, such as critical thinking, problem solving, discretion, and client relationship management. Many successful virtual assistants also develop niche expertise, for example in a specific industry or platform, and update their skills regularly through online courses or professional communities.