Both groups also were in sync when weighing in on topics such as work/life balance and the increasing complexity of the administrative role.
OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in the placement of administrative professionals, and IAAP, the world’s largest association for administrative support staff, developed the study to examine the evolving relationship between managers and their support teams. More than 250 managers and 300 administrative professionals were surveyed for the project.
“Administrative professionals are well-positioned to take on expanded responsibilities involving project management, communication, use of office technology and other vital business functions,” says Kay Enlow, president of IAAP. “In today’s fast-paced, high-tech workplaces, it’s more important than ever that an administrative professional and manager maintain a strong partnership, one that makes the best use of the assistant’s skills in support of the organization.”
Managers and employees agree the administrative support role has evolved. Eighty-six percent of both groups say duties have grown more complex over the past two years, and now include activities such as client relationship management, budget tracking, event planning, database management, research and training, desktop publishing, project management and computer support.
This trend is likely to continue — 82 percent of administrative employees polled said they want to assume more responsibility. Likewise, 70 percent of managers feel they could better utilize their assistants’ skills and abilities.
Approximately nine out of 10 managers and eight out of 10 administrative professionals say the volume of work assigned to support staff is manageable. Moreover, 93 percent of supervisors say they foster a workplace where support staff are able to balance work and personal responsibilities; 84 percent of administrative personnel agreed.
Strong majorities of both groups also felt administrative professionals are provided sufficient office resources, education and training. However, administrative workers may have to speak up to get what they need. Seventy-four percent of managers say they have improved their ability to proactively provide critical office tools, but only 34 percent of administrative staff agreed.
Ensuring adequate information flow is an essential part of the administrative function — and it’s one in which most support personnel appear to excel. Ninety-four percent of managers and 84 percent of administrative professionals surveyed rated their communication with each other as good or excellent.
