SPECIAL
REPORT:
Approaching the
Millennium
The State of
the Boss/Assistant Union
Paul A. Douglas
Ph.D.
There are 5,000,000 secretaries and administrative assistants in
the US labor force and more than 6 million individuals in the role of assistant
on this continent. According to the US Federal Bureau of Statistics there
will be an increase of 45% in the number of clerical jobs in the United
States within the next 10 years. In Canada this translates into 30,000
new positions each year for the next 10 years. Secretary/administrative
assistant is the largest, single occupational category for women. Yet with
so much discussion today about empowerment, creative challenges for women
and team building, there has been very little research done into the changing
role of assistant, a persuasive and important role in our society.
It has been our intent over the last several years, through our research
and our conversations with thousands of secretaries and assistants from
large and small organizations, in the public as well as the private sector
to fill this research gap. In this regard, we are pleased to publish the
result of our 1999 survey identifying changes in attitudes, as well as
trends and challenges faced by today's secretaries and administrative assistants.
This survey was conducted throughout the United States and Canada in the
spring of 1999. In total 2100 people responded to the survey. The questionnaire
was composed of 30 core questions as well as a series of demographic questions.
In addition to the core and demographic questions, each participant also
completed a 80 question Behavioral Styles Profile (A Myer-Briggs type indicator).
While it is not possible to provide a detailed discussion or analysis
of each cross correlation here, it should be noted that some of the more
interesting and significant correlation's related to the differences in
perceptions and attitudes held by secretaries and administrative assistants
falling into the various behavioral styles.
HIGHLIGHTS
-
Stress levels for individuals acting in the role of assistant are on
the increase.
-
The most often reported factor contributing to that stress was responsibility
without authority. Fully one third of all respondents and 40% 0f those
earning over $ 40,000.00 / yr., identified this as a major problem.
-
While job satisfaction levels remained basically unchanged since
last year, the job satisfaction of assistants earning over $ 45,000.00
/yr. went down.
-
The gap between job satisfaction levels in the public and the private
sectors widened.
-
Over 80% of respondents said secretaries and administrative assistants
were being given increased responsibilities.
-
The vast majority of secretaries still say they would rather work for
a man than a woman.
-
Interruptions and the procrastinating bosses remain the two
top time wasters for administrative assistants.
-
Technological innovations continue to impact of the role of, assistant
to with the percentage of managers doing correspondence on their own
computers increasing from 63% to 68%.
-
Generally administrative assistants feel more respected than they have
in the past.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Question 1 My job title is:
a) Secretary 17%
b) Administrative Assistant 34%
c) Personal Assistant 8%
d) Executive Assistant 29%
e) Other 12%
Question 2 Years of work experience
Average 9.2
Question 3 Age?
Average 40.38
Range 18 67
Question 4 Sex?
Female 93%
Male 7%
Question 5 I am employed by a:
a) Large Corporation 22%
b) Small Company 14%
c) Government 36%
d) University, Education 13%
e) Hospital, Health Care 7%
f) Military 4%
g) Non-Profit Organization 3%
h) Other 1%
Question 6 I live in the following state or province:
Question 7 My salary to the nearest thousand dollars is:
Average $ 36,500
Range $ 19,000 132,000
Mode $ 42,000
Question 8 My highest educational attainment is:
a) High school 23%
b) Some college 46%
c) 2 Year college 17%
d) Bachelors degree 12%
e) Post graduate degree 2%
Question 9 My primary boss is:
a) Male 69%
b) Female 31%
Question 10 I have worked for him/her for ______ years.
Average 4.3 years
Question 11 How many people do you supervise?
Average 2.93*
* When compared to job title as indicated in question 1, the following
distribution was found:
a) Secretary 1.3
b) Administrative Assistant 3.2
c) Personal Assistant 1.1
d) Executive Assistant 3.4
e) Other 3.9
The Core Questions
Question 12 I find my job satisfying and rewarding.
a) Strongly agree 34%
b) Agree 56%
c) Disagree 9%
d) Strongly disagree 1%
Question 13 As compared to last year I find my job:
a) More satisfying and rewarding 48%
b) Less satisfying and rewarding 16%
c) About the same 36%
Question 14 Secretaries and assistants are more respected today
than they were five years ago.
a) Strongly agree 19%
b) Agree 60%
c) Disagree 20%
d) Strongly disagree 1%
Question 15 Secretaries and assistants should put their own advancement
and welfare ahead of their boss's.
a) Strongly agree 9%
b) Agree 35%
c) Disagree 50%
d) Strongly disagree 6%
Question 16 Secretaries/assistants should sacrifice their own job
satisfaction, if necessary, to help their boss succeed.
a) Strongly agree 3%
b) Agree 13%
c) Disagree 67%
d) Strongly disagree 13%
Question 17 I would rather work for a man than a woman.
a) Strongly agree 22%
b) Agree 55%
c) Disagree 17%
d) Strongly disagree 6%
Question 18 My primary boss is very satisfied with me and my performance.
a) Strongly agree 61%
b) Agree 36%
c) Disagree 2%
d) Strongly disagree 1%
Question 19 I would encourage young people to pursue a career as
a secretary or administrative assistant.
a) Yes 59%
b) No 41%
Question 20 I would rate the relationship I have with my primary
boss as:
a) Excellent 62%
b) Good 31%
c) Fair 6%
d) Poor 1%
Question 21 I would rate the relationship I have with my co-workers
as:
a) Excellent 49%
b) Good 46%
c) Fair 4%
d) Poor 1%
Question 22 I have been sexually harassed in the workplace.
a) Yes 23%
b) No 77%
Question 23 From your experience, what do you see as the most stress
producing aspects of the role of assistant?
a) Responsibility without authority 31%
b) Difficulty saying no 16%
c) Problems with boss 3%
d) Conflicts with co-workers 16%
e) Time pressures 19%
f) Lack of job security 1%
g) Lack of advancement 9%
Question 24 My greatest organizational or time management problem
is:
a) My failure to plan properly 7%
b) My boss's procrastination 16%
c) My inability to say no 14%
d) Interruptions 33%
e) The telephone 6%
f) Meetings 4%
g) Failure to delegate 4%
h) Multiple boss conflicts 10%
Question 25 My second greatest time management problem is:
a) My failure to plan properly 8%
b) My boss's procrastination 6%
c) My inability to say no 15%
d) Interruptions 26%
e) The telephone 19%
f) Meetings 7%
g) Failure to delegate 14%
h) Multiple boss conflicts 5%
Question 26 I would say my primary boss is:
a) An excellent time manager 20%
b) A good time manager 38%
c) A fair time manager 26%
d) A poor time manager 16%
Question 27 My primary boss creates letters or correspondence on
his/her own computer:
a) Often 45%
b) Occasionally 21%
c) Seldom 2%
d) Never 22%
Question 28 What percentage of your time is spent typing or word
processing?
Average 40.72
Question 29 I act as secretary/assistant to _______ managers.
Average 3.48
Question 30 Generally, do you believe secretaries/assistants are
being given more management responsibilities today?
a) Yes 87%
b) No 13%
Past
Articles
Establishing
Trust & Rapport
Procrastination
- Overcoming Inertia
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