THE traditional role of the secretary - taking dictation, shorthand, and answering the telephone for their boss is fast dying out, a new survey by Swindon-based recruitment specialists OfficeTeam shows.

Bosses today write the bulk of their own correspondence by e-mail (76 per cent), take business calls direct via their mobile phone (64 per cent) and frequently arrange their own appointments (18 per cent).

Which means that secretaries are taking on other responsibilities to fill the gap, such as increased general office management (62 per cent), finding and hiring new staff (38 per cent) and managing more people (23 per cent).

The survey also reveals how the role of the modern secretary has meant more, not less work, with a third working longer hours than they did two years ago.

Secretaries now typically work an extra day every week in unpaid overtime and a quarter do not even take a single break through the day.

Secretaries in Swindon put in an extra six-and-a-half hours of overtime a week, shows the survey.

"Whether they are being fairly compensated is questionable, since the average salary of a secretary in Swindon is £18,400, more than £2,000 less than the national average of £20,750," claims the recruitment agency.

Tara Heath, branch manager of OfficeTeam in Swindon said: "The traditional picture of a secretary used to be as a 'gatekeeper' for the boss no-one could get in to see the boss, speak to them on the telephone or make an appointment without the secretary knowing about it.

"That has all been swept away by new technology, and nowadays secretaries have to be multi-taskers.

"Our findings show they have less direct contact with their boss but more general responsibility within their organisation."

Fran Horwood, PA to the public safety director at Vivista in Chippenham agrees.

"My role as a PA has changed considerably over the last few years," she said.

"I now have to deal with an increasing amount of pressure, being personally required to interact with a wider business audience as well as turn around all given tasks within a short time-frame.

"Hence, I believe that it is vital PAs have a good sound business understanding in order to provide the level of service, which are demanded by business functions," Ms Horwood said.