Print Article for : Administrative Assistant Office Manager

[A243]Administrative Assistant Office Manager

by Robert Smith, Rob

“The challenge facing Eric Perbos-Brinck of orienting his diverse employees to his company and to the French culture reflects only a small aspect of the human resource management (HRM) challenges facing today’s managers. If an organization doesn’t take its HRM responsibilities seriously, work performance and goal accomplishment may suffer. The quality of an organization is, to a large degree, merely the summation of the quality of the people it hires and keeps. Getting and keeping competent employees are critical to the success of every organization, whether the organization is just starting or has been in the business for years. Therefore part of every manager’s job in the organization function is human resource management." (Robins et al, 2001)
Through out the world, every organization is practicing HRM to reduce the differences and status between the managers and employees. By giving the slight authorities and freedom to work, the employees can do better. The HR manager brings the workforce together and he knows how to properly maintain its workforce by various tools and methods. In recent years the operations of HRM have been changes from last 10 years.
“The world of work in which Human Resource Management (HRM) operates has changed dramatically in the last half century. Not surprisingly, therefore, the HRM concepts and practices being created and carried out today are also increasingly different from those of the past." (Abraham K. Korman et al, 1999)

Most of the organizations refer their employees as their biggest asset. They think employees as the most important part of the organization. These organizations have a separate HRM department under which they keep track on their employees like hiring them, firing them. Evaluating them and awarding them.
“Various studies have concluded that an organization’s human resources can be a significant source of competitive advantage." (Robins et al, 2001).
For achieving success in the business environment against the competitors, the companies have to think that it employees are the part of the organization. Because they are the one making the organization successful. The managers should know how to make their employees more effective and efficient. So by viewing the relation between managers and employees as partners not as a servant has also put a positive impact on the success of the organization.
“In addition to their potential importance as part of organization strategy and contribution to competitive advantage an organization’s HRM practices have been found to have a significant impact on organization performance" (Robins et al, 2001).
HRM plays an important role in practicing the daily HRM responsibilities which help in improving and increasing the value of an organization in the market.
“HRM practices could increase its market value by as much as 30 percent" (Robins et al, 2001). One of the most important parts of the HR manager is to provide knowledge, skills and use their abilities in most affective and efficient manner. Increasing the motivational factor and providing them with rewards and incentives is also the major role of HR manager.
“There are certain HRM activities that must be completed in order to ensure that the organization has qualified people to perform the work that needs to be done." (Robins et al, 2001).

Simplistically speaking, a virtual assistant helps you save time by taking over the tasks that you don't have time, staff, or inclination to do yourself. They save you money because instead of hiring someone part or full time and paying all of the costs that go into having staff on site, you are only paying for each hour worked.

Time is Money

When an office worker works the hours you designate and works in your office, then they are an employee. On-site staff is paid for the block of time that they're in your office, whether or not they are actually productive the entire time. Sometimes you pay for their lunch time or staff meeting attendance. You always pay for their idle time. In addition, there are health benefits, vacations, sick pay, supplies, office space, and the inevitable taxes: workman's comp, income tax, and social security. At the end of a year's time, that can be a whopping amount of money.

If you are able to get someone to work in your office for $10 an hour, and you only want them to be there four hours a day, you are still going to pay for the space, office supplies, and taxes. You usually get what you pay for. Chances are your office help will not be overflowing with motivation, creativity, and the desire to help you succeed. That office worker's primary motivation is making a paycheck.

Virtual assistance is entirely different.

A virtual assistant is a business owner and a contracted worker. Some, but not all, virtual assistants work evenings and weekends. If you have on-site staff, you usually pay overtime for that, and you also have to find someone who will do it; if a virtual assistant works those hours, then she does it at her regular rate, because she charges the same rate for every hour worked, regardless of when that is.

Office assistance wages vary, but in some places you can hire someone for as little as $10 an hour, while a virtual assistant charges anywhere from $25 an hour to $50, depending on a variety of factors. She is worth it, considering that one of the primary differences between office worker and virtual assistant is expertise.

Experience Matters

A virtual assistant specializes. Most of them have a field of expertise in a chosen industry. For instance, some work only with the legal system, some only with education, and some with corporations. They are not only highly skilled in their specialty fields, but they are also adept at using technology to connect and communicate. Virtual assistants are technology experts. They don't need to be in your hometown - or even in your state - to get the job done. They know how to transfer, share, and remotely access files. They can be involved in a meeting, presentation, or class that is being held in cyber space. A virtual assistant can collaborate with you via VOIP, text messaging, or using a Blackberry.

How does a virtual assistant save you money? Can you imagine how much it would cost to hire a full-time, on-site assistant who could do all that and still have your success as their primary goal? You don't train a virtual assistant, other than in learning your systems occasionally. They already know your industry and how to combine that with the vast world of technology. The virtual assistant pays his/her own taxes, health benefits and office overhead.

The Bottom Line

An on-site office worker is the ideal choice if you're looking for someone to work for you - someone who will answer the phone when it rings, greet people as they come in, and take care of repetitious office tasks. If you want someone to do the books, you also hire a bookkeeper; someone to create flowcharts, schedule meetings, and take care of office correspondence, then you add an administrative assistant. You will have a full staff, which require a full pocket.

On the other hand, you can work with a virtual assistant and have someone who will not only work with you, but who is specialized in your industry. You won't train them, because they will already know how to work with you. Virtual assistants have a variety of honed skills that fit your needs. They have the abilities and the knowledge to work with you from across the state or across the country. The bonus in working with a virtual assistant is the degree of professionalism and technical know-how that you won't get with a traditional, on-site office worker.

Article Source :

About Author

Both Robert Smith & Rita Ballard are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Robert Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Shopping, Careers and Job Hunting and Medicine. Robert Smith was born in New York in 1956. He has spent more than 12 years working as a professor at New York University. He is always fond of helping students with academic writing. Now he spends most of his time with his family and shares his experience. Robert Smith's top article generates over 49500 views. Bookmark Robert Smith to your Favourites.

Rita Ballard has sinced written about articles on various topics from Customer Service. . Rita Ballard's top article generates over 14800 views. Bookmark Rita Ballard to your Favourites.