Paid holidays: Should the time be accrued?

• September 19, 2008

Question: “In my 30-year career, I’ve never heard of a company requiring that holiday time be accrued, i.e., each pay period an employee accrues the time,...

What are the rules concerning third-Party access to employee personnel files?

• September 10, 2008

Q. I have heard that under Illinois law, our company...

How should I tactfully ask visitors to sign in and wear a badge?

• August 28, 2008

Question: “I am the receptionist for a large assisted living facility.  Visitors must sign in at the reception desk and then wear a visitor...

What’s the best career path for an administrative assistant?

• August 21, 2008

Question: “What is the best career path that an administrative assistant can take in the admin or facilities field, and what would the duties be?”...

Minute-taking: What’s the best way to approach it?

• June 20, 2008

Question: “Do you have any suggestions on how to take good minutes at a meeting?” — Shawndelle Kurka

Moving to a four-day workweek: How do administrative assistants convince the boss to include them too?

• June 13, 2008

Question: “Our boss is contemplating moving to a four-day workweek to combat the higher gas prices. However, she doesn’t plan to include the administrative...

Record retention software programs: Any available?

• June 06, 2008

Question: “Has anyone used software programs to create a record retention program?  Specifically, has anyone used the Skupsky method?” — Anonymous

Administrative Assistant Handbook: What should be included?

• May 14, 2008

Question: “We are trying to put together a handbook for our administrative assistant staff. From your experience, what should we include in it?”...

Administrative Professionals Week: Will the boss remember?

• April 17, 2008

Question: "My boss never remembers that it's Administrative Professionals Week. Is it rude to send him an e-mail reminder? How do other admins make sure their bosses...

Is there a secret to handling telemarketing calls?

• April 11, 2008

Question: “What’s your favorite technique for handling telemarketing calls? We get several every day and it’s very frustrating. It’s bad...

Who should provide refreshments for monthly staff meetings?

• April 04, 2008

Question: “I work for a nonprofit organization where only a few staff members occasionally bring in a treat for the monthly staff meeting. We all bring our own...

Employer responsibilities when subpoena demands personnel files

• February 27, 2008

Q. What should the employer do when an employee’s personnel file is subpoenaed? ...

My new job is overwhelming: How do I handle it?

• January 18, 2008

Question: “I was offered a promotion seven months ago to a newly created position with new responsibilities and a salary increase. Originally, five people did...

What’s the best way to propose a flexible work schedule?

• November 30, 2007

Question: “I am a full-time working mother of two children, one is 4 years old and the second is 21 months. Recently, I proposed a flexible schedule at my job so...

How do I create a project board?

• November 30, 2007

Question: “I share an office with several other secretaries.  My director has asked us to create a "project board" to post our assignments on. ...

What does documenting in ‘real time’ mean?

• October 05, 2007

Question: I’d like an explanation of what ‘real time’ documentation means. — Cece King, M.S.

Quiz: How good are you at organizing?

• October 01, 2007

Good organizational skills can help diminish chaos in your life … and not just at the office, says productivity guru Laura Stack.

Cap your conference with a post-con

• October 01, 2007

Your big conference went off without a hitch. In fact, it went so smoothly, your boss might not realize how well you handled everything.

Taming the meeting monsters

• October 01, 2007

If your meetings are like most, your control of things will be challenged by "meeting monsters"--strong personalities that can derail your efforts.

Business travel: Use ‘5-hour rule’ in drive vs. fly decision

• September 01, 2007

More small business travelers now are hitting the highways to avoid the hassles and costs of flying. It can be a smart option, especially if your clients are within 400...