The interviewer inquires about your work attendance in the past year to gauge your reliability and dedication to your work. They want to know if you are the type of employee who shows up consistently and on time or if you have a pattern of being absent or tardy. This information can help them determine if you are a good fit for the position and if you can meet the company's expectations for attendance and punctuality. As a management assistant, you have a lot of responsibilities, and multiple team members rely on you. As with any interview question, you want to be honest about your attendance record and explain any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your attendance in the past, as they will discover this information when contacting your previous employer.