Today’s personal assistants have become increasingly powerful with influence
over business decisions and access to their bosses’ confidential personal and
financial information, research has revealed.
The seventh annual survey of PAs by recruitment firm OfficeTeam reveals that
63 per cent are regularly asked for advice on business issues, while 36 per
cent are privy to their bosses’ confidential bank details.
The research, based on responses from 923 administrative professionals,
shows that PAs – or ‘executive assistants’ – are responsible for managing
virtually every aspect in the lives of their bosses.
Fifty-two per cent of the respondents believe they know their manager’s
movements better than the person’s partner, while 62 per cent claim that they
are confided in about personal issues.
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The changing role has brought a higher amount of stress, the survey shows,
with 22 per cent of respondents claiming too much work was the main cause of
stress, while 21 per cent cited the people they work with as the main cause.
Speaking at the launch of the survey, Steve Carter, managing director of
OfficeTeam UK and Ireland, said, "This is the first time the PAs have said
they are actually playing a central role in running the company. There is an
increasing acceptance that it is a career and not just a job."
