A former executive assistant at the software company Hewlett-Packard has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison after using company credit cards to buy luxury clothing, Apple products and even a holiday to Europe. Holli Coulman, 45, worked as an executive assistant at Hewlett-Packard in California from 2008 to 2012, and used her position […]

They often say that a keynote speaker can have a large impact on an event; in some cases they are pivotal to the proceedings, especially when there is an important message to deliver or staff to be motivated. Choosing the right person is a potential minefield where sometimes even the simplest factor can be overlooked […]

Almost a third of British workers do not receive a present from their bosses when they retire, according to new research. A study of 2,000 retirees revealed that 31 per cent of people were not given a leaving gift. Another seven per cent did slightly better – at least they got a ‘sorry you’re leaving’ […]

There is a long-standing belief that passion for a job comes only from finding one that’s “the right fit”. However, research from the University of Michigan finds that there is more than one way to love what you do. The study’s lead author Patricia Chen says her team discovered that people cultivate passion either from […]

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe is perpetuating the belief that pampered footballers are incapable of taking care of themselves. The Daily Mail reports that he’s seeking an ‘executive personal assistant’ whose tasks will include, among other things, choosing his clothes, paying his bills and making sure his fridge is well-stocked. The former Spurs player, who earns […]

Addressing the ever-changing cyber-threat environment is an ongoing challenge for businesses. One study by Forrester Research predicts that 60% of businesses will discover they’ve been victims of a security breach in the next year, and that up to 80% will experience one – which they may not even be aware of. Business therefore need to […]

Running a team of virtual assistants, or even trying to organise a company’s remote admin team, can be a challenge. It’s not always ideal to communicate via email and quick responses aren’t always guaranteed. However, properly managed teams can save costs and boost productivity. Here are five tips that will help you achieve great results. […]

Current employment law is bad for small business in the UK, according to research by citrusHR. When asked whether current employment law was a factor when considering taking on more staff, the response was surprisingly strong. A huge 39% of small businesses surveyed said they would take on more staff if employment law was made […]

’Just turn it off and turn it on again’. That’s the extent of the majority of people’s computer troubleshooting knowledge. In fairness, it does work more often than you would think. And then there are the problems that require a lot more work, which is what the supremely talented computer repair workers across the country […]

Debbie Grimshaw is Executive Assistant to Phil Jones, Managing Director at technology company Brother UK. She is an active member of the Manchester PA Network and was runner up in 2014’s PA Contributor of the Year for National PA Day. Here, she gives her top tips for supporting a high-profile executive. “There hasn’t been a […]

Writing an attention-grabbing CV can be difficult in today’s competitive job market. According to a new survey from CareerBuilder.com, 70% of employers spend less than five minutes checking a CV and nearly half (48%) spend less than two. The research also found that more than half of employers (56%) have caught a candidate lying on […]

Handling the requests of a busy executive is hard enough on a good day, but sometimes a PA is unlucky enough to have to cover for a boss who is always late, can be forgetful and often isn’t available. Katie Donovan of Equal Pay Negotiations recently told Business Insider how to support a manager who’s […]

A third of employers are in the dark about the service that Pension Wise can provide, according to the latest research from Close Brothers Asset Management. When asked about their experience of the Government’s free service so far, 32% admitted they were not clear about how it could help.   This lack of clarity is […]

When it comes to the recruitment process these days, increasing numbers of managers and HR people are bypassing job sites and networking events and going straight for the big one: LinkedIn. With more than 300 million members and counting, the professional networking site is filled with top recruitment managers on the hunt for the right […]

The rise of a new generation of business people means offices are getting more relaxed by the day. However, it’s important to remember to stay professional no mater how casual your workplace is. Here, Mashable’s Jason Kulpa gives his top five tips for relaxed etiquette. 1 Understand your companyBefore you interview for a job – […]

You’ve probably heard the fuss surrounding the new Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade, which is being dubbed one of the best operating systems going at the moment. Considering how much of a failure Windows 8 was, that’s not exactly hard. If you were ahead of the game at the end of July, you might even have […]

Many of us already recognize the importance of administrative staff, but new research suggests that their influence is growing. Three in five (60%) 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 […]

More than a third of employees believe they have been bullied in their workplace, according to research for employment law specialists Slater and Gordon. The report for the online survey of 2,000 men and women working in the UK showed that tight deadlines, personality clashes and office politics often caused tensions to run high, with […]