Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think most office jobs exist to waste time and make people feel important?

35 replies

SharpGreyOwl · 18/09/2025 12:39

So much of office life seems like shuffling paper, booking pointless meetings and creating reports no one reads. AIBU to think half of these roles don’t need to exist?

OP posts:
scallopedpotatoes · 18/09/2025 12:47

Not necessarily, but I do think a lot of jobs could be done in less than 40 hours a week. There is inevitably a lot of “works expands to fill the allocated time” in some jobs. But really depends so much on the workplace and industry.

notatinydancer · 18/09/2025 12:46

I often wonder what exactly our many layers of senior managers do exactly.

lljkk · 18/09/2025 12:46

I'm sure like most people I will end up saying "yeah but My job isn't just wasting time" .

Until Brexit happened I wasn't a fan of the paperwork & policy age but I' ve come round to thinking there's good reason for process.

Secretly I suspect OP is right wrt most civil servants, sadly !!

I would personally like a lot less Health & Safety regulation WRT things like "safe lifting at work" and whether volunteers can sit down have a cup of tea with the person they help out in that person's home or 55 forms to fill in as risk assessment on every school trip etc.

BauhausOfEliott · 18/09/2025 12:45

Oh, a goady ‘To think that…’ question from an automatically generated user name. We’ve not had one of those for a good five minutes.

toomuchfaff · 18/09/2025 12:44

If youre not happy in your role, do something about it. If your jealous of someone elses role - do something to make your life and own role better.

Envy isnt a good stance, jealousy doesn't serve you. Bitterness isnt a good characteristic

TeenToTwenties · 18/09/2025 12:44

So many AIBUs these days with sweeping generalisations and no context. AIBU to be getting a bit fed up with them?

They can all be answered with 'in some circumstances no doubt you are right, but as a generalisation it is too sweeping a statement.'

Complet · 18/09/2025 12:43

What on earth do you do for a living OP?!

Drivingmissrangey · 18/09/2025 12:43

I used to think the same, until I got a role in senior management and realised the complexities and legal and regulatory requirements involved in running a business of any decent size.

frozendaisy · 18/09/2025 12:41

The last thing we need is fewer jobs, pointless or not!

ilovesooty · 18/09/2025 12:40

Different in different places I imagine.
That's my answer to today's edgy question.