Kingston University - You want me to do what?

More than one third of secretaries have been asked by their bosses to perform tasks that go beyond the call of duty, including sewing up trouser seams, buying a toilet brush and booking a back wax, according to a study. Researchers at Kingston University, working with industry partners, found that although modern personal assistants are better educated and perform more high-level tasks than their predecessors, many are undervalued and asked to perform inappropriate jobs. It is hoped that the research will lead to the creation of a "mini-MBA" or national personal assistant qualification to improve the status and career prospects of secretaries.