Yes I do believe that clerical duties are very undervalued in the business world today.
Clerical duties are largely seen as being very basic and simple in terms of what other may see as the complexities of the business world.
There are very few jobs now which have the title of Clerical Assistant, Clerical Officer etc. Most or all of a clerical worker have now been added to the role of Administrative Assistants and Secretaries and PAs. So in the business world, employers look to these candidates for the jobs.
Clerical work mainly included:
Sometimes greeting customers
Answering the telephone
Opening the post
Filing
Miscellaneous odd jobs
However, most times, clerical workers were the one keeping the frontline of work running smoothly, but their efforts usually go unnoticed or unappreciated. Not to say they were or are taken for granted because it's good that things run smoothly and if they were not the clerical workers would one of the first groups to get criticized. It is a shame that these jobs are being almost extinct as they could have been used for young people stepping out from school into the working world for the first time, or mothers returning to work or people who have changed jobs and seek experience with an office environment in a business.
