---
description: Happy Administrative Professionals Day! To observe the occasion, LightBox presents a curated selection of images by 10 photographers taken over the past quarter-century on the subject of modern office life — its quirks, arcane customs and distinctive fashions.
title: A Major Case of ‘the Mondays’: Photographs of Office Life
image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta29ad86c1820aba9/6987a47935ba6f1a56c099fa/howterrylikeshiscoffee01.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9
---
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# A Major Case of 'the Mondays': Photographs of Office Life
by
[Myles Little](/author/myles-little/)
## Myles Little
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Apr 24, 2013 12:00 PM CUT
Chapter One, VII, 2010 From How Terry Likes His Coffee
Chapter One, VII, 2010 From How Terry Likes His CoffeeFlorian van Roekel—Courtesy Flatland Gallery
by
[Myles Little](/author/myles-little/)
## Myles Little
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Apr 24, 2013 12:00 PM CUT
_“Modern business is a storm. Modern office professionals bring order.”_ _— Website of the International Association of Administrative Professionals_
Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Since 1952, this holiday has honored “individuals who are responsible for administrative tasks and coordination of information in support of an office-related environment and who are dedicated to furthering their personal and professional growth in their chosen profession.”
According to the [International Association of Administrative Professionals](http://www.iaap-hq.org "undefined"), APD has grown into “one of the largest workplace observances,” perhaps rivaled only by employee birthdays, major holidays and the occasional going-away parties for colleagues who have been canned, or who quit to go work at better-paying jobs in cooler companies.
To observe the occasion, LightBox presents a curated selection of images by 10 photographers taken over the past quarter-century on the subject of modern office life — its quirks, arcane customs and distinctive fashions.
If you’ve enjoyed this year’s Administrative Professionals Day thus far, just remember: there are only around 2,000 more working hours until the next one. Two thousand hours of jammed printers, half-hearted motivational speeches and ceaseless meetings – unless you’re a fancy lawyer where [the median lawyer salary is $130,880](http://www.access2knowledge.org/jobs-education/how-much-do-lawyers-make/ "undefined"). Two thousand hours remarkable only for their perfect, suffocating sameness.
Inspiring, isn’t it? Now … back to work!
---
**_Myles Little_** _is an associate photo editor at TIME. He, too, works in an office._
---
"I drive an Astra CDi and I'm a National Business Development Manager for a company that manufactures jams, marmalades, gourmet accompaniments and food gifts", 1994 From A to B: Tales of Modern Motoring Martin Parr—Magnum
Pedestrian No. 9, New York City, 1996 From Corporate Documents Steven Ahlgren
A financial-industry charity event aboard the USS Intrepid in New York City, 2009. Jeff Mermelstein—Courtesy of the artist and Rick Wester Fine Art, New York
Paris, 2011 Jeff Mermelstein—Courtesy of the artist and Rick Wester Fine Art, New York
Tokyo Commuter, 1998 From Japanese Asleep Martin Parr—Magnum
Untitled, 2003 From Stuff I Gotta Remember Not to Forget Darin Mickey
Chapter One, VII, 2010 From How Terry Likes His Coffee Florian van Roekel—Courtesy Flatland Gallery
Chapter Four, II, 2010 From How Terry Likes His Coffee Florian van Roekel—Courtesy Flatland Gallery
Inside the offices of McCormack and Dodge, 1988 From The Cost of Living Martin Parr—Magnum
Untitled, 2009 From Human Resources Darin Mickey
Untitled, 2009 From Human Resources Darin Mickey
File Cabinets 5591-2006, 2006 From Empire Martin Hyers and William Mebane
Lawyer's Office, New York, 1997 From Office Lars Tunbjork—Agence VU
Chairs, 2003 From Bankrupt, Twin Palms, 2005 Phillip Toledano
Office, Bank Japan, Tokyo, 1996 From Office Lars Tunbjork—Agence VU
Rogers, Minnesota. October 2004\. Division Stampings Inc. From Making Parts Alec Soth—Magnum
Untitled, 2010 From The Loneliest Man in Missouri Alec Soth—Magnum
Allstate 7806-2006, 2006 From Empire Martin Hyers and William Mebane
Transparent City #12, Chicago, 2007 From The Transparent City Michael Wolf—Laif/Redux
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