pen-pushers
Desk-bound paper workers
Pen-pushers is the plural of pen-pusher, a mildly disparaging term for office workers whose jobs consist mainly of paperwork and bureaucratic tasks.
The image is of someone who does nothing more demanding than push a pen across forms: The pen-pushers in accounting rejected my expense report.
The term implies tedium and lack of real productivity.
Also spelled pen pushers; the American equivalent is pencil-pusher.
Collective administrative authorities
- functionaryMinor administrative worker
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
administrative · government · institutional · public-sector · registrar · secretariat · governance · policy-maker
Storing documents systematically
- typistOne who keyboards
- stenographerPerson recording spoken words
- secretarialOf office support work
- receptionistVisitor-greeting office worker
bookkeeping · correspondence · documentation · minute-taking · archiving · cataloging · invoicing · scheduling
Varieties or documents
- documentsFormal written records
- recordsStored data or albums
- archivesStored historical documents
- invoicesItemized payment demands
reports · memoranda · applications · submissions · certificates · permits · contracts · proposals
Boring through length
- monotonousUnchangingly dull
- humdrumLacking variety or excitement
- drearyDull and depressing
- boringFailing to engage interest
routine · repetitive · plodding · dull · uninspired · mind-numbing · soul-destroying · thankless
officialdom
Collective administrative authorities
- functionaryMinor administrative worker
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- complianceAdhering to requirements
protocol · administrative · government · institutional · public-sector · registrar · secretariat · governance · policy-maker · regulatory
filing
Storing documents systematically
- typistOne who keyboards
- stenographerPerson recording spoken words
- secretarialOf office support work
receptionist · bookkeeping · correspondence · documentation · minute-taking · archiving · cataloging · invoicing · scheduling · organizing
forms
Varieties or documents
invoices · reports · memoranda · applications · submissions · certificates · permits · contracts · proposals · receipts
tedious
Boring through length
- monotonousUnchangingly dull
- humdrumLacking variety or excitement
- drearyDull and depressing
boring · routine · repetitive · plodding · dull · uninspired · mind-numbing · soul-destroying · thankless · menial
pen-pushersfield workers
Agricultural labor force
fieldsmen · road warriors · boots on the ground · traveling salesmen · beat reporters
pen-pushersmanual laborers
Workers using physical effort
field workers · blue-collar workers · laborers · tradesmen · tradespeople
pen-pushersdecision-makers
Those with choosing power
movers and shakers · doers · men of action · go-getters · power brokers
pen, pens, penned, penning, push, pushes, pushed, pushing, pusher