OCCUPATION MOBILITY AND THE EFFECTS ON SECRETARIES OCCUPATION PROSPECTS

Abstract

This 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 studies. That secretaries are nit paid the same salary grade level as their counterparts in other profession. Hat secretaries are not allowed to make use of their initiatives in carrying out their duties. That secretaries are discriminated in terms of promotions. That secretaries do not enjoy training opportunities as their counterparts in other professions etc. It was also found that the likely effects of these problems include: Low productivity, Poor quality jobs, Lack of job satisfactions and so on. Some recommendations were made on what could be done so as to enhance the prospects of these secretaries.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Every business organization need efficient management and administration and therefore requires the services of secretary Segun (1989). A secretary is one who besides possession of typewriting and shorthand skills is knowledgeable in management and organizational techniques. The secretary relies on her sill in dealing with people. Such skills are tact, discretion, courtesy, common sense, pleasant speaking ability and having a good memory, to mention but a few.  It is a well know fact that every occupation carries some elements of risks usually referred to as occupational hazard. Secretaries are to be found in almost all business organizations worth that name. As is well known, the secretarial profession has come of a rage in Nigeria. Secretarial courses are now being offered in all polytechnic in the country and in some reputable universities. The number of students offering the course seems to be growing from day-to-day for those working; the take home pay is relatively attractive. Everything seems to be going for the secretary, yet many secretaries express dissatisfactions with their lot in their work places and some I know have abandoned the profession for greener pastures.  This 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 satisfactions identification of those constraints will be a first step in seeking for solutions to the problems and this is the objective of the research.

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In every well organized business, the service of the secretarial personnel is highly needed. It is usually asserted that the success or failure of any organization largely depends on the role 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 unidentified obstacles which may lead the secretary to resort to negative attitude towards their work and even leave their job for entirely different professions.    It is the aim of this paper to find out those impediments, obstacles and pitfalls, which make many secretaries, wish to leave this profession despite the attractive salaries usually offered to them. We will also seek to find possible solutions and proper recommendations that may stop these problems.

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is occupation mobility and the effect on secretary occupation prospect. But for the successful completion of the study; the researcher intends to achieve the following sub-objectives

1. To find out the problems encountered by secretaries working in some selected establishment in Enugu metropolis
2. To find out the likely effects of those problems on the secretary’s performance on the job
3. To make suggestions and recommendations for improve of the lot of secretaries.

• RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H₀: Secretaries in some selected establishment in Enugu metropolis encounter problems in their working place

H₁: Secretaries in some selected establishment in Enugu metropolis do not encounter problems in their working place

H₀²: there is no significant relationship between occupation mobility and secretary’s occupation prospect

H₂: there is a significant relationship between occupation mobility and secretary’s occupation prospect

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is envisaged that this study when completed will be immense benefit the secretaries working in some establishment to the management and the organization as a whole.  Firstly, this study intends to identify the problems encountered by secretaries, which can inject negative attitude in them so that their employers will have cleaver pictures of these problems and devise ways of motivating their secretaries as to enhance productivity. The study will also be beneficial to managers in those organizations so that they will reveal what could be done to enhance the prospects of 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 adhered to, they will be better placed in the organization and their status enhanced. It will also serve as an inspiration to Nigeria secretaries to embrace the profession fully having known the already existing problems.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study covers occupation mobility and the effect on secretary’s occupation prospect. In the course of the study, the researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

OCCUPATION: Occupation may refer to: Job, a person’s role in society, often a regular activity performed for payment. Employment, a person under service of another by hire. Career, a course through life. Profession, a vocation founded upon specialized training.

MOBILITY: Mobility, a contemporary paradigm in the social sciences and humanities that explores the movement of people, ideas and things. Economic mobility, ability of individuals or families to improve their economic status.

SECRETARY: In other situations a secretary is an officer of a society or organization who deals with correspondence, admits new members, and organizes official meetings and events.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

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