26 April 2016

It's Singapore National Administrative Professionals Week. Do you need a shoulder to cry on?

Birthday bouquet.
Bouquet of flowers.


On the eve of Singapore Administrative Professionals Day 2016, a survey conducted by last-mile delivery provider Zyllem has revealed that 93% of respondents believe the Administrative Professionals in their office are the unsung heroes of local businesses.

The survey also reveals that 64% co-workers admit to taking their Admin Professionals for granted, frequently relying on them to perform tasks outside their job scope including delivering umbrellas to colleagues stranded in the rain; sending forgotten passports to colleagues at airport check-in; performing first aid; and even providing an early morning wakeup call to ensure everyone makes it on time to an important client meeting.

The survey was conducted by Zyllem to coincide with Singapore National Administrative Professionals Week from 24 to 30 April 2016, which is dedicated to Administrative Professionals in recognition of their contributions to the workplace in Singapore.

The survey highlights that while 73% do pause to consider the Admin Professional’s job scope before assigning a task, more than two thirds regularly rely on them to go the extra mile and undertake extra tasks to ensure office harmony and that workplace operations run smoothly.

The most common role that is out of the job scope is that of “a shoulder to cry on” - 45% of those surveyed admit to turning to their office Admin Professional for help during times of stress. Four in 10 (42%) of those surveyed rely on their office Admin Professionals to wear a tech support hat and resolve problems with computers, the Internet and printers. If there is a company event on the horizon, 30% of those surveyed would expect their Admin Professionals to block time in their calendar to perform duties as Official Photographer.

Asked why, in their view, Admin Professionals regularly and many times unquestioningly go beyond the call of duty, 70% of respondents think they are just trying to be helpful while 63% assume Admin Professionals feel responsible for the overall welfare of the office. This could explain some of the more unusual expectations their colleagues have of them - 28% of respondents turn to their Admin Professionals when they need first aid, 17% admit to requesting an umbrella when stranded in the rain over lunchtime; and one in five admit to asking their Admin Professional colleague to give them a wakeup call to ensure they arrive at an early morning meeting on time.

Eric Ong, Country Managing Director, Zyllem Singapore, says that Singapore Administrative Professionals week, is the ideal time to show some appreciation. He said, “At Zyllem, we speak to Singapore’s Administrative Professionals every day and so we understand that they’re on the front line when it comes to ensuring businesses across the island run smoothly. They often go way beyond the call of duty and are so good at ensuring office harmony that many of us are guilty of losing sight of their actual job scope. It’s important for everyone to take some time to show some appreciation and to give unsung Admin Professional heroes everywhere the recognition and thanks they deserve.”

To mark Administrative Professionals Week 2016, Zyllem is rallying a show of appreciation for Admin Professionals. Co-workers have been asked to nominate the unsung Admin heroes in their own teams, and tell Zyllem why their nominees deserve to receive one of five special appreciation gifts.

Diana Ngo, from financial consultancy Blackpeak Group, nominated their Admin Professional Liana Olivera to receive one of the special appreciation gifts. Diana said, “Liana runs our local office and handles so many things for us. She helps when she doesn’t have to, often going above and beyond her job scope. She definitely deserves the biggest thank you.”

Valentina Lee, an Admin Professional at National University of Singapore was nominated by her colleagues Angeline Sim and Venetia Ng to receive another of Zyllem’s special gifts of appreciation because, said Ng, “Valentina is someone who does not shy away from opportunities or difficult situations, willingly taking up challenges. I would really like to acknowledge her for all the big and small things that she has done for the office.”

Interested?

Zyllem will be sharing appreciation tips throughout Administrative Professionals Week on the brand’s Facebook page

posted from Bloggeroid