No work to do at workplace

Hitchmo

I’m currently employed by a large company but with very little actual work to do. The volume isn’t there mostly due to overstaffing. Over an 8 hour work day I probably do about 1.5 hours of actual work per day. The rest is just browsing the internet or chatting with colleagues. There’s very little stress involved however I feel my potential is being wasted a bit. I’m wondering if anyone else has been in similar positions ? Is it worth trading for a potentially more stressful job?

Pintman Paddy Losty

Hitchmo wrote: »

I’m currently employed by a large company but with very little actual work to do. The volume isn’t there mostly due to overstaffing. Over an 8 hour work day I probably do about 1.5 hours of actual work per day. The rest is just browsing the internet or chatting with colleagues. There’s very little stress involved however I feel my potential is being wasted a bit. I’m wondering if anyone else has been in similar positions ? Is it worth trading for a potentially more stressful job?

**** that. Say nothing. That sounds absolutely ideal to be honest.

Atlantic Dawn

How long are you in the place? Do you think the company are in a financially troubling situation where there might be redundancy on the horizon? There's only so much of that boredom you can take to be honest, I'd look somewhere else wasn't waiting around for a payoff.

Midnight_EG

Hitchmo wrote: »

I’m currently employed by a large company but with very little actual work to do. The volume isn’t there mostly due to overstaffing. Over an 8 hour work day I probably do about 1.5 hours of actual work per day. The rest is just browsing the internet or chatting with colleagues. There’s very little stress involved however I feel my potential is being wasted a bit. I’m wondering if anyone else has been in similar positions ? Is it worth trading for a potentially more stressful job?

Been there last year, became manager of a new place and the work was less than a third of what my usual work week would be as a lower position. Ended up depressed, literally, with the lack of work and had a breakdown. Left there and life got infinitely better keeping my mind occupied with steady work.

Salary Negotiator

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

How long are you in the place? Do you think the company are in a financially troubling situation where there might be redundancy on the horizon? There's only so much of that boredom you can take to be honest, I'd look somewhere else wasn't waiting around for a payoff.

This is bang on. I find the lack of work more stressful than actually working.

I could have written the OP and the only reason I’m not seriously looking to move is I’m waiting to see if there’ll be redundancy package following some restructuring that’s being planned.

WhiteMemento9

Can you not use the free time to upskill yourself by doing online courses or something of that nature? I agree that it is often more stressful not actually doing anything at work and the day can drag twice as along as result but focusing that time on something productive can make it a pretty sweet deal.

thenightman

I was promoted relatively recently & am in the same boat. My previous role was fast paced and consequently the day flew by. Now I've about an hour of actual work to do which I try to stretch out to fill the day, plus I've to answer questions from new staff doing my old job a few times a day.

Day drags by now, & I've been proactively looking for other work to do but nothing substantial exists that isn't covered. Found myself emptying the staff room dishwasher today and throwing old food out of the fridge out of sheer boredom. Wish I never went for the promotion in all honesty!

NIMAN

Well they do say the higher you move up, the less you do.

Aglomerado

WhiteMemento9 wrote: »

Can you not use the free time to upskill yourself by doing online courses or something of that nature? I agree that it is often more stressful not actually doing anything at work and the day can drag twice as along as result but focusing that time on something productive can make it a pretty sweet deal.

This.
I managed to do two postgrad diplomas and a MA during downtime at work in a previous job. My managers knew and were supportive. Work paid for them as well.
Trying to look busy is more stressful than being busy. At least when you're studying you're working towards something and if a senior manager walks in you've a document open instead of Boards!
I'm glad I did those courses. They helped me get promoted to a job where there is very little downtime!!!

lainey_d_123

I had a job like that once (it was badly paid but loads of downtime) and I just had to force myself to use my time well instead of frittering it away on social media and chatting. I did loads of coding lessons online and built some mini apps and also spent time learning a new language. I'd strongly advise doing this rather than just wasting time. Obviously the first step would be to ask your boss/manager for more work or see how you could be of more value but if nothing is forthcoming, I wouldn't feel bad about using the time to benefit your own development/learning.

corcaigh1

Any open positions available?

endacl

I was in that position once, over 20 years ago. A large Irish semi state who shall remain nameless. On the day I started, the lady who was supposed to induct me was out sick, and I kinda fell between the cracks. I used to turn up every morning and look busy, until I noticed nobody seemed to care whether I was busy or not. We had an electronic clock in/out system, and one day I forgot to clock in after the hour long lunch break. One of the lads I used to go for the morning coffee break with told me that it wouldn’t be an issue. Apparently the system presumed if you clocked in at 9, and out at 5, that everything else was kosher. It simply automatically clocked everybody at an hour’s lunch. From that point on, my work day consisted of clock in at 9, fart about till lunch at 12, clock out, take a half day amusing myself around town, and wander back in to clock off at 5 and head home.

Now, it’s kinda funny I got away with it. Then it was soul crushing. It was a job I never should have applied for, being the diametric opposite of somebody designed to work in an office in front of a screen. Can’t believe I got away with it. Left after 5 months. Wasn’t dismissed. Got a better offer and just let them know I wouldn’t be back the next day. They even paid accrued holiday pay.

Lonesomerhodes

Hitchmo wrote: »

I’m currently employed by a large company but with very little actual work to do. The volume isn’t there mostly due to overstaffing. Over an 8 hour work day I probably do about 1.5 hours of actual work per day. The rest is just browsing the internet or chatting with colleagues. There’s very little stress involved however I feel my potential is being wasted a bit. I’m wondering if anyone else has been in similar positions ? Is it worth trading for a potentially more stressful job?

I started my own side business with a similar position. In a 8 hour day had maybe 2 hours work, maybe 3.

I had other jobs where was flat out and can tell you preferred quite ones million times more

Count your blessing!.

Strumms

corcaigh1 wrote: »

Any open positions available?

You’d say that but in a position I had going back 20 years ago in France I had a similar thing, hated it. The day and week was dragging, 9-6 with a half day on Friday which ok was great the early finish on Friday, in fact there was never anything to do on a Friday barring emails, a meeting and a tidy up but the rest of the afternoons dragged, we had usually completed our work come 3 pm every day.

Salary Negotiator

Strumms wrote: »

You’d say that but in a position I had going back 20 years ago in France I had a similar thing, hated it. The day and week was dragging, 9-6 with a half day on Friday which ok was great the early finish on Friday, in fact there was never anything to do on a Friday barring emails, a meeting and a tidy up but the rest of the afternoons dragged, we had usually completed our work come 3 pm every day.

I’m in the same situation now and only for a possible redundancy in the next few months I’d have left already.

Nobody wants to be over worked but under worked is a different kind of stress.

OMM 0000

I did a masters degree while in a job which required 1.5 hours work per day...

Make use of your time!