Clerical Services ESP — 
Building a Quality Workforce

Office Politics and Clerical Services ESP

Because of the nature of their work environment, Clerical Services ESP face a particular kind of "Office Politics." Here are two aspects of this phenomenon:

Condescension — Most managers are male and most clerical employees are female. (In fact, 96% of Clerical Services ESP are women.) As a result, many clerical employees must cope with classic gender discrimination — an aspect of their jobs that often frustrates and angers them. When a female clerical services employee responds to a manager's request for extra help, time or initiative, she often gets only an off-handed, condescending thanks, based on an expectation of performance rather than recognition of a job well-done. Clerical employees are sometimes under-appreciated because they've worked with the same boss in the same system for many years. On average, clerical services ESP have been in their jobs 12.7 years and have been with one particular manager for 11.8 years. Supervisors must be trained in human relations in order to properly respect and praise the skills of Clerical Services ESP.

The "Many Bosses Problem" — Clerical Services ESP often have more than one boss. This not only creates tremendous stress regarding time management, it requires workers to cope with individual idiosyncrasies in order to function effectively day to day. Many Clerical Services ESP have reported the need to "train their supervisors without them knowing it" in order for tasks to get accomplished and for offices to function smoothly. Jurisdictional problems also arise whereby the secretary is left in limbo with an assignment, or must manipulate and maneuver in order to get a job done. Turnover of supervisors and managers also creates havoc and must be addressed carefully and professionally by the clerical services employee.

To Section 10: Meaningful Professional Development = A Quality Workforce