OCCUPATIONAL CHANGES AND THE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE SECRETARY

            The study examined the problems encountered by secretaries in some selected banks in Enugu metropolis

A total of eighty-eight questionnaires were administered to eighty-eight secretaries in these banks. After the analysis, the researcher made some findings with respect to the sample population studied.

That secretaries are not paid the same salary grade level as their counterparts in other profession

That secretaries are not allowed to make use of their initiatives in carrying out their duties.

That secretaries do not enjoy training opportunities etc.

It was also fund out that the likely effects of these problems includes: Low productivity, poor quality jobs, lack of job satisfaction and so on.

Some recommendations were made on what could be done so as to enhance the prospects of these secretaries. In  the light pf the above, it was recommended that the secretary’s duties and responsibilities be matched with their qualifications and training.

It was also recommended that adequate salaries, job satisfaction, job enrichment programmes and opportunities for retaining, seminars, conferences and professional membership be provided for them so as to enhance their job satisfaction, espirit de corps, rapport and word performance.

LIST OF TABLE

Table 1                        Sample distribution

Table 2                        Response to question one

Table 3                        Response to question item two

Table 4                        Response to question item three

Table 5                        Response to question item four

Table 6                        Response to question item five

Table 7                        Response to question item six

Table 8                        Response to question item seven

Table 9                        Response to question item eight

Table 10                      Response to question item nine

Table 11                      Response to question item ten.

Table 12                      Response to question two

Table 13                      Response to question item eleven

Table 14                      Response to question item twelve

Table 15                      Response to question item thirteen

Table 16                      Response to question item fourteen

Table 17                      Response to question item fifteen

Table 18                      Response to question item sixteen

Table 19                      Response to question item seventeen

Table 20                      Response to question item eighteen

Table 21                      Response to question item three

Table 22                      Response to question item twenty

Table 23                      Response to question item twenty one

Table 24                      Response to question item twenty two

Table 25                      Response to question item twenty three

Table 26                      Response to question item twenty four

Table 27                      Response to question item twenty five

Table 28                      Response to question item twenty six

Table 29                      Response to question item twenty seven

Table 30                      Response to question item twenty eight

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONEINTRODUCTION

1.1              Background of the study

1.2              Statement of the problem

1.3              Purpose of the study

1.4              Research questions

1.5              Significance of the study

1.6              Delimitation of the study

1.7              Definition of terms

CHAPTER TOWLITERATURE REVIEW

2.1              Brief history of the secretarial profession.

2.2              Definition of the word “secretary”

2.3              Categories of secretary

2.4              Attributes of a secretary

2.5              Problems of secretarial personnel

2.6              Occupational changes and its effects on secretary

2.7              Summary of literature review

CHAPTER THREERESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

3.1              Areas of study

3.2              Population of the study

3.3              Sample size

3.4              Method of investigation

3.5              The research instrument used

3.6              Validity of the instrument used

3.7              Method of administration and collection of questionnaires

3.8              Method of data analysis.

CHAPTER FOURDATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1              Relevance of responses to the research questions

4.2              Interpretation of data

4.3              Discussion of findings

CHAPTER FIVESUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSIONS

5.1              Summary of findings

5.2              Recommendations

5.3              Conclusions

5.4              Limitation of the study

5.5              Areas of further research

Reference

Appendix”

1: Transmittal letter

2: Questionnaire.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Every business organization needs efficient management and administration and therefore requires the services of a secretary. – Segun (1989). A secretary is one who besides the possession of typewriting and shorthand skills is knowledgeable in management and organizational techniques. The secretary relies on her skills in dealing with people, such skills are tact, discretion, courtesy, common sense, pleasant speaking, good command of English language, ability and having a good retentive memory, to mention but a few.

It is a well known fat that every occupational carries some elements of risks usually referred to as occupational hazard, secretaries are to be found or seen in almost all business organizations worth the same. As is well known, the secretarial profession has come of age in Nigeria. Secretarial courses are now offered in all polytechnics in the country and in some reputable universities. The number of students offering the course seem to be growing from day to day. For those working, the task home pay is relatively attractive. Everything seems to be going for the secretary, yet many secretaries express dissatisfaction with their lot in their work places and some I know have abandon the profession for greener pastures.

The study therefore is being carried out to find out the problems facing secretaries in their work places and those impediments on their way to achieving full job satisfaction. Identification of these constraints will be a first step in seeking for solution to the problems and this is the objectives of this research.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In every well organized business the services of the secretarial personnel are highly needed. It is usually asserted that the success or failure of any organization, or its good or bad image largely depend on the roles of the secretary plays in achieving the objectives of the organization.

In these modern times, the secretarial profession has become very lucrative and attractive. This has led to an unprecedented influx into the profession. Despite this enviable position, the secretarial profession appears to be bedeviled by some yet unidentified obstacles which may lead the secretary to resort to negative attitude towards their work and even leave their jobs for entirely different professions.

It is the aim of this research work to find out some if not all those impediments, obstacles and pitfalls which make may secretaries wish to leave this profession despite the attractive salaries usually offered to them. We will also seek to find possible solutions and offer recommendations that may stop these problems.

1.3       PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study include

i.                    To find out the occupational problems encountered by secretaries working in some selected establishments in Enugu urban.

ii.                  To find out the likely effects of these occupational problems on the secretary’s performance in the job

iii.                To find out the causes of these problems

iv.                To find out the likely solutions to these problems

1.4       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.      What are the occupational problems encountered by secretaries in these selected establishment in Enugu urban

2.      What are the likely effects of these problems in detracting secretaries from their official performance

3.      What are the causes of these problems

4.      What are the likely solution to these occupational problems.

1.5       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is envisaged that this study when completed will be of immense benefits to secretaries working in some establishments to the management and the organization as a whole.

Firstly, this study intends to identify the occupational problems encountered by secretaries which can inject negative attitude in them so that their employers will have clearer pictures of these problems and devise ways of motivating the secretaries so as to enhance productivity. This study will also be beneficial to managers in these organization so that they will reveal what could be done to enhance the prospects pf these secretaries.

On the other hand, the study will be beneficial to the secretaries themselves in that, if the recommendations advanced in this study are adhere to, they will be better placed in the organization and their states enhanced. It will also serve as an inspiration to Nigerian secretaries to embrace the profession fully having known the already existing problems and ways to avert them.

Finally, the research will provide up to date information on the secretarial professions.

1.7       DEFINITION OF TERMS

ESTABLISHMENT: It is either a government, business organization or a large institution

INCENTIVES: These are fringe benefits in various forms designed to motivate workers.

MOTIVATION: The is the stimulation of workers to higher levels of performance by satisfying their different needs at different points in time.

PRODUCTIVITY: It is the ability of labor and capital to produce the amount of output of goods and services compared to the input of  labor and capital