We’ve all gotten some weird requests at work, but these actual requests administrative professionals have received take the cake! Visit https://www.roberthalf.com/officeteam/industry-resources/office-of-the-future for more information about Office of the Future, a research project developed by OfficeTeam and the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

1. © 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
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You Think You Get Weird Requests at Work?
Strangest Requests Administrative Professionals Have Received

2. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
OfficeTeam and the International Association of
Administrative Professionals (IAAP) asked more than
2,000 administrative professionals to recount the
wackiest requests they’ve received at work.
Here are a few of the
most unusual responses:

3. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Cut off the boss’s tie that was caught in the paper shredder.”

4. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Help land a helicopter on top of the building.”

5. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Mail a box of dirt.”

6. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Translate a presentation slide deck from German to English.”

7. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Write a skit about hand-washing.”

8. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Communicate between two executives
who were not speaking to each other.”

9. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Send an email to staff explaining
how to flush the toilet properly.”

10. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Monitor and track odor complaints in the new building.”

11. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Assemble a power washer.”

12. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Take samples of toilet paper from all the
office bathrooms and compare them.”

13. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Organize a hula-hoop
competition for executive staff.”
Although administrative professionals often help with company
events, they couldn’t have planned for these requests:
“Find toy stick horses for
a Western-themed event.”
“Purchase and assemble Christmas
trees in seven office locations.”

14. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
“Decorate a roasted pig
for a department luau.”
“Rent a nun costume for an event.”
“Get 150 pairs of logoed
earmuffs for a party the next day.”

15. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
Others worked with a bunch of animals -- literally:
“Get a snake out of the
women’s bathroom.”
“Take care of the
office’s pet snails.”
“Find two-inch plastic monkeys
and order 500 of them.”
“Remove nesting geese
from the front door area.”

16. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
For some assistants, the requests were travel-related:
“Call airport security to
locate a lost shoe.”
“Get a visa to India in
two hours.”
“Give driving directions to a
cab driver in a different state.”
“Call a hotel in London to request
soft pillows for the CEO.”

17. Source: OfficeTeam and IAAP survey of 2,290 administrative professionals in the U.S. and Canada
© 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
About the Study
The findings are part of Office of the Future, a new research project from
OfficeTeam and IAAP that examines evolving workplace trends impacting
administrative professionals.
Access an infographic highlighting additional survey results, a cheat sheet
for writing effective job descriptions and the latest Office of the Future
insights at officeteam.com/ootf.

18. © 2014 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
About OfficeTeam:
OfficeTeam, a Robert Half company, is the nation’s leading
staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of
highly skilled office and administrative support professionals.
officeteam.com
About the International Association of Administrative Professionals:
The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)
is the world’s largest association for administrative support staff, with more
than 450 chapters and approximately 16,000 members worldwide.