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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think most jobs could be done by fewer people but no one admits it because they’d be out of work?

57 replies

PlainMintOwl · 24/08/2025 17:45

So much of work feels like busywork. Whole roles exist to shuffle paper, attend pointless meetings or justify someone’s salary. AIBU to think most companies could cut staff by 30% and still function?

OP posts:
vdbfamily · 24/08/2025 18:47

I am an NHS clinician and have never, in 35 years working, had a job that could be done in the hours allocated. I currently have a 34 hour contract over 4 days and regular work an extra 4-6 hours to feel like I am even doing a half decent job.

Danikm151 · 24/08/2025 18:44

Mostly upper management roles. The higher the ladder the less they seem to do. Those at the bottom are scrambling to fit everything in. Don’t get me started on “consultants” £500 a day and wtf do they actually do?

LadyNorthStar · 24/08/2025 18:40

Yes, I agree. I work in a team of 5 and in meetings we always tell the manager how busy we are and make it sound like a challenging role. In reality, I could do a lot more and we would be fine with only 3 in the team. I do hardly anything on my wfh days 2 times a week.

The wider department has grown the last few years and I’m sure it’s because people are less productive. We used to be asked our goals every day and then would have to explain what happened if we didn’t achieve it. Now they’ve moved to a more gentler management style and people aren’t questioned like this any more. So they are doing less. And yet, people are apparently more stressed than ever 🤷‍♀️

Ddakji · 24/08/2025 18:23

I’ve done a number of so-called full time jobs in 4 days a week.

CynicalSunni · 24/08/2025 18:20

Upside to these roles is you do not have to worry about time off or being off ill. Someone can always cover.

Prefer itbto being understaffed

JLou08 · 24/08/2025 18:03

I've had 1 job like this, I was taking on double the work anyone else was and that was still a breeze. It was a children's centre, we did some amazing work there and it was sad when the funding was cut but I did think there was a lot of money wasted there and if they were managed better maybe they could have kept going.
My other jobs have been waitress, childcare and social work which were the complete opposite to the children's centre, we were/are understaffed and run off our feet with high turn over of staff. Social work involves a lot of extra unpaid hours.

Cartwrightandson · 24/08/2025 17:59

Check out the book bullshit jobs