PA Today - Gone tomorrow?

One in ten PAs have suffered ill health due to long hours

Over a quarter have never received training paid for by their companies

46% are tempted to jet off abroad in search of a better deal



One of the key operational forces behind UK businesses will face increasing pressure, as a significant number of PAs and executive assistants consider jetting off abroad in search of a better work life, according to the results of a recent survey by administrative recruitment specialist OfficeTeam. Nearly half (46%) of those questioned are tempted to move overseas, signalling a future loss of many talented professionals. PAs have been given more responsibility but are suffering from long hours and stress, and receiving little recognition for their work. If bosses donít act quickly, they could soon be organising their own diaries!

Nearly one in ten respondents claimed to be suffering ill health and stress due to long hours and 15% actually feel guilty if they donít work overtime. Over of a quarter (28%) of PAs say their overtime has increased over the last two years, and one in ten now work more than ten hours extra a week.

But despite their hard work and commitment, PAs arenít receiving the recognition they deserve and they are still left at the company periphery. 25% of executive assistants are never invited to team meetings and over a quarter (28%) never have paid for training to develop their skills. The top three office irritants highlighted by undervalued PAs include:

Being expected to be free at a moments notice

Being asked to perform tasks that arenít part of their job description

Other employeesí assumption that they know everything

To stop a mass exodus of PAs and office administrators, bosses need to take notice of the benefits that PAs desire, in comparison to those they actually receive. As hours and pressure at work increase, todayís executive assistants are looking for more unconventional benefits relating to lifestyle and work-life balance. Many desire flexi-time (65%) and extra holidays (53%), whilst far fewer actually receive these benefits. The most popular benefits offered by employers are pensions (72%) and private healthcare (38%), which in the main are no longer motivating for this group. In fact, twice as many respondents were interested in pet insurance than a pension!

Younger professionals were found to be the most likely to leave the UK, with nearly twice the number of under 30s (64%) tempted by the prospect of life overseas than those over 30 (38%.) This suggests that employers need to start investing in the young to retain new talent.

Phil Sheridan, UK District Director of OfficeTeam said PAs and executive assistants are working harder and harder to keep up with their bosses but are frequently not recognised for the value that they deliver. Their bosses and colleagues need to start appreciating the important role they play in the office and employers need to offer them the benefits and training they deserve. If the situation doesnít improve, good PAs could soon become few and far between as they jet off in search of a better deal.

The survey found that PAs in 2005 are paid only 2% more than in 2004, a smaller increase than in many other industries.