How many people do you support at work?

[susan silva]

How many people do you actually do work for?   I know back when I was an admin, I reported to and did the work for "mainly" one director, but I supported 5 other managers and then a group of about 100 people.   I was talking to a friend the other day and she thought that the days of supporting "one" person were long gone.  (With the exception to CEO's assistants, and even they often support other C-level execs.)

Based on your job and who you know, have the days of supporting one person long gone?

[gee4]

I agree Susan, PAs to CEOs usually just support that person and maybe one nother, but it really depends on the company and number of employees.

In my current role, I support one Director and his team.  Now that team are made up of 3 or 4 other programme teams, each of whom has a programme manager.

At the moment I would say I support about 50+ people.  I was just typing up a list today of my new boss and his programme teams and it amounts to approx 53 people.

Given we have over 500 hundred employees on site and 13 secretaries, I think the work is evenly spread.

The PA to the CEO supports one other person but these two travel quite a bit and she obviously manages their diaries as well.  I wouldn't say the days of supporting one person have long gone, but I would say the setup has changed somewhat eg. the PA to our Finance Director also supports the Finance team.

[msmarieh]

I support one primary person, plus to a lesser extent, the five other people in the headquarters group.

[jennika]

I support and report to one person but in supporting that person I do projects for her 4 direct reports and I am the go to problem solver (how do I put toner in the copier?  Where do I send my this or that to?  How do I add a video into my presentation.... and many more) for about 30 "in the area" people.

[JessW]

  I support 1 direct report, but I have a different hat in which I also bill, administrate and credit control for another 59 people on a daily basis! 

[forfrom]

Although my title is Exec PA, I am not really a PA as I support the CEO, Chairman, President, FD and Commercial Director.  I only have one Line Manager though, the CEO, so he is my secret priority over the others.

[Katie G]

Similar story -- 1 official direct report, but the "go to" person for 17 others.

[Chatham Lady]

Hi

I have not provided one-to-one support for a few years now.  Having been made redundant earlier this year in a role where I worked for up to 20 people, and then doing a temping assignment, I am now directly supporting two Directors.  However I also provide administrative support to four other Directors, five regional managers and give ad hoc secretarial support to up to 10 other office based people.  Each day it varies.

 

[Jackie G]

Hi Chatham, welcome back!

[peaches2160]

I report to a VP.  1 primary, but "go to" girl to several others.  Still help old boss when he is in country with schedule and travel as well. 

[diamondlady]

One Chief Financial Officer up til the last couple of years, now I report half time to Accounts Payalbe and half time to him in the afternoons.  It's very busy and it makes the day go faster, but I miss the 100% one on one time available with my boss.