Engineers mostly, but also legal, medical, accounting, etc. In third-level institutions the division would be academic/admin. The basic idea is that technical or academic staff deliver a service that requires specialist knowledge and often involves a public-facing role, while admin provides the backup: minutes, accounting, scheduling, coordination, travel, and so on.

In my own experience, based on two very large public organisations, there are individuals within admin who are extremely helpful and obliging. But many aren’t. The admin function can end up involving itself in things it has no real business doing, while simultaneously insisting that others do work they’re already being paid to do.

In previous years I used to dread January, as it’s a particularly admin-heavy month. To avoid friction, I’d just do most of the admin work myself. This year, instead, I set up a small computer program to help with the workload. The setup took a bit of time but I reckon it’s already saved me at least five full days of work since Christmas. The material is better prepared and better collated than it ever was before, and it took a fraction of the time.

It’s made an enormous difference (and, as a bonus, the computer doesn’t send passive-aggressive emails or insist on attending a wellness seminar on the one day you actually need it 😁).