UK PAs look for more recognition from the role

If there is one thing that PAs would change about their job apart from the salary, it would be to highlight the important contribution that they collectively make to UK businesses every day. After pay issues are taken into account, long hours, their colleagues’ misconceptions and feeling undervalued top the list of PA bugbears, according to the results of this year’s National PA Survey, conducted by the organiser of the Office show, Diversified Business Communications.

The good news is that given the necessity of a strong, close working relationship between PAs and their bosses, more than 68% of respondents stated that they felt appreciated by their executive.

“There are an estimated 650,000 people working across the UK in a PA role and, although their job titles may vary and the industries they support can be worlds apart, together their profession contributes positively to the productivity of every single part of the economy”, says Office event manager David Maguire. “By recognising and promoting the achievements of PAs on National PA Day, we aim to encourage greater support and enthusiasm for the profession as a whole.”

He continues: “While there never could, or will be, such a thing as an average PA, these results do provide something of a snapshot. The majority of survey respondents, for example, have been working in their current role for between one and five years, their salary is around £28,000, they feel appreciated by their boss, are highly motivated and, evidently, enjoy the important work that they do.”