Question

Justify the following statement:
A secretary is considered as a paid employee.

Answer 1

(1) A secretary is a person who handles correspondence, keeps records and does general clerical work for an individual or an organisation. A secretary has to act within the powers delegated to him by his employer or the management or the managing body. He is supposed to do only what he has been asked to do by his employer or the management. He, thus, works according to the directions, desires and instructions of his employer or the Directors. He has no decision-making power. As an employee he faithfully executes the decisions of the management.
(2) As per the provisions of law, the appointment of a secretary may be compulsory or optional. He is not a member of the organisation. He may work on a full-time or a part-time basis. He is either paid a salary or given an honorarium (i.e. a fees or a payment given for services rendered).
(3) From the legal point of view, a secretary is a paid employee or an officer of an organisation or individual. Law does not give any independent powers or authorities to secretary. He is a senior executive official. He occupies a key position in the organisation. Sometimes, he even acts as an adviser to the management.