you think you get weird requests at work?
DESCRIPTION
We’ve all gotten some weird requests at work, but these actual requests administrative professionals have received take the cake! Visit officeteam.com/ootf for more information about Office of the Future, a research project developed by OfficeTeam and the International Association of Administrative Professionals.TRANSCRIPT
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
officeteam.com
You Think You Get Weird Requests at Work? Strangest Requests Administrative Professionals Have Received
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
OfficeTeam and the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) asked more than
2,000 administrative professionals to recount the wackiest requests they’ve received at work.
Here are a few of the
most unusual responses:
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Cut off the boss’s tie that was caught in the paper shredder.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Help land a helicopter on top of the building.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Mail a box of dirt.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Translate a presentation slide deck from German to English.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Write a skit about hand-washing.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Communicate between two executives who were not speaking to each other.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Send an email to staff explaining how to flush the toilet properly.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Monitor and track odor complaints in the new building.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Assemble a power washer.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Take samples of toilet paper from all the office bathrooms and compare them.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Organize a hula-hoop competition for executive staff.”
Although administrative professionals often help with company events, they couldn’t have planned for these requests:
“Find toy stick horses for a Western-themed event.”
“Purchase and assemble Christmas trees in seven office locations.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Decorate a roasted pig for a department luau.”
“Rent a nun costume for an event.”
“Get 150 pairs of logoed earmuffs for a party the next day.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
Others worked with a bunch of animals -- literally:
“Get a snake out of the women’s bathroom.”
“Take care of the office’s pet snails.”
“Find two-inch plastic monkeys and order 500 of them.”
“Remove nesting geese from the front door area.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
For some assistants, the requests were travel-related:
“Call airport security to locate a lost shoe.”
“Get a visa to India in two hours.”
“Give driving directions to a cab driver in a different state.”
“Call a hotel in London to request soft pillows for the CEO.”
Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
About the Study
The findings are part of Office of the Future, a new research project from OfficeTeam and IAAP that examines evolving workplace trends impacting administrative professionals. Access an infographic highlighting additional survey results, a cheat sheet for writing effective job descriptions and the latest Office of the Future insights at officeteam.com/ootf.
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
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.
officeteam.com
About the International Association of Administrative Professionals: The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is the world’s largest association for administrative support staff, with more than 450 chapters and approximately 16,000 members worldwide.