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Research Reveals Support Staff More Valued Today Than 10 Years Ago

TORONTO, Aug. 5, 2015 /CNW/ - Many of us already recognize the importance of administrative staff, but new research suggests that their influence is growing. Three in five (60 per cent) senior managers surveyed by staffing firm OfficeTeam and the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) as part of the Office of the Future project said support staff are more valued now by their companies than they were 10 years ago. Sixty-two per cent of administrative workers who were polled agreed.   

Visit officeteam.com/ootf to view an infographic of the survey results or learn more about the research. Videos highlighting misconceptions and the most rewarding aspects of the administrative profession are also available.

Managers and administrative professionals, respectively, were asked, "Do you think professionals in the administrative profession are valued more or less by their companies than they were 10 years ago?" Their responses:

*Responses do not total 100 per cent due to rounding.

Other findings:

• Managers and support staff didn't see eye to eye on the most important skill for success in the administrative profession. Time management topped the list for executives polled (39 per cent), while 30 per cent of administrative workers surveyed cited organizational abilities.
• Both managers (38 per cent) and administrative professionals (61 per cent) indicated flexibility is the most valuable attribute for support personnel, outranking a positive attitude, initiative and diplomacy.  

"Although much of what administrative professionals do occurs outside the limelight, many are taking on expanded roles to assist with everything from implementing technology to budgeting," said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Support staff who are flexible can adapt to changing situations and give a lift to the entire team by introducing new tools and processes that promote efficiency."

About the Research
The findings are part of Office of the Future, an ongoing research project from OfficeTeam and IAAP that examines emerging trends affecting administrative professionals. The latest information in this series highlights changing perceptions and traits of support staff to help workers and employers achieve success in a constantly evolving workplace. It includes surveys of 610 senior managers and 2,290 administrative professionals in the United States and Canada.

About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam, a Robert Half company, is the nation's leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 300 locations worldwide. For more information, including online job search services, visit officeteam.ca. Follow @RobertHalf_CAN on Twitter and the OfficeTeam Take Note blog for additional workplace advice and hiring trends.

About the International Association of Administrative Professionals
The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is the world's largest association for administrative support staff. IAAP also offers the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP), the only certification for those working in office support professions. With 20 branches and 144 local area networks, the organization helps its members connect, learn, lead and excel. For more information, visit iaap-hq.org.

SOURCE OfficeTeam

Image with caption: "Office of the Future (CNW Group/OfficeTeam)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150805_C7206_PHOTO_EN_471285.jpg