Bigger Role for Support Staff

A survey finds administrative workers are taking on more duties in the workplace.

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Driven by a surge in office technology, administrative support workers are taking on a bigger role in the workplace, senior managers say.

Nearly three quarters of 150 executives surveyed by OfficeTeam, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based staffing service, said support staff responsibilities have grown in the last five years to include everything from managing budgets to negotiating vendor contracts, overseeing projects and maintaining Websites.

As a result, support workers today have a wider range of career options than they did in the past, the survey found.

Dave Willmer, OfficeTeam's executive director, credits the increased role to better technology in the workplace.

"Administrative assistants can achieve seniority within their role of profession, or leverage their special skill sets to obtain supervisory positions in administration, human resources or other departments," Willmer said in a statement.