Pointless office jobs

Yes, well I apologise if that’s how it came across buts not at all what I meant.

I work for a private building maintenance company, I am second down the pecking order and have been here the longest. You could put my large wage down to minimum wage and it would make absolutely no difference to the pay and conditions of care workers, nurses or any one else.

I think I can empathise a bit, or my DH could. He is moving roles next months, to a job which actually pays a bit less, but which he is pretty sure he will enjoy more and will get more fulfillment from. Being able to do that is a privilege, we both recognise that (but it's also due to is being both savvy and lucky in our 20's and 30's and having only a 25% mortgage), he had kind if fallen into his current role and couldn't see himself doing it for another 20+ years. So he has taken a step down the 'ladder' to then hopefully step up again in a different direction - is that possible for you?

I felt like that for a few years; maybe menopause contributed to it.

My job is still a bit boring but I am grateful for it and try not to dwell on what I can’t/dont want to change anymore. It drains your energy for other things. There’s nothing perfect. I ended with bornout in the previous one.

I did some accupunture for my anxiety and have been reading the power of now. I am working on it and it is helping, plus the menopace tablets.

do you have a choice?

I woild love a job like thst with that salary. I am a teacher snd exhausted all the time and envy the people sitting in offices all day rather than dealing with rude, abusive teenagers all day for less than half the salary. Think yourself lucky.

Do you work in the public or private sector

is there an angle you could find where you would be adding value. Both to your day and the overall place of work

Where can i find a role like this? What does the role involve so I can get the training ? Im on minimum pay and knackered everytime I return home.
Im genuinely interested

No, I realise that- I did say I realise that’s not how it works in the real world. But it should!

If all or most very highly-paid workers told their CEOs they wanted a bit less pay so the people at the bottom could earn a bit more, maybe it could have some effect, but it won’t ever happen, I realise.

I hear you. Many in my network are having 'is this it?' or 'was it worth it?' moments when we realise some of the trade offs of the things we've strived for. Before you jack it all in I'd suggest working with someone eg. an independent coach or counsellor. Someone who can help unpack the thinking that brought you here and the actions to cement where you want to get to. Because while its fun to dream about life with animals or working with kids.... If you're about that 80k life a reality check of the privileges youll say goodbye to maybe in order. In the meantime enjoy the cheque and opportunity to fund all the extra activities and experiences that your salary affords. Because the grass is seldom greener

This is maybe what used to be called the "mid life crisis" OP.

I sympathise, even though I only make about a quarter of what you do. My job has a really high amount of job satisfaction and a huge part is about being meaningful.

My staff, who are massively, grossly underpaid, are very loyal to the job and I think it's for the same reason - meaningful work where they see the impacts, lots of trust and autonomy in their work, lots of scope to use their talents and creativity and shape their work accordingly, and a good team that's really mutually supportive.

That being said, gosh, I wish I was at half your salary rather than a quarter!

Ha - I think you mean the total opposite actually. Police and other law enforcement officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, paramedics (and all the non-health care staff that support them), all school staff, social workers, mental health workers, care workers, street cleaners, prison officers & probation workers, border agency staff, passport office workers, paramedics, highways agency staff, : they are all things that make a country civilised and nice places to live. There would be absolute ANARCHY if all these roles didn't exist. They are what is keeping the country going. I would be terrified to live in a country that did not have them. You should be too.

I have a really valuable job to society.
And wish I got paid half as much as the OP.

But sadly we don't value Early Years Practitioners because they don't make money so I earn a quarter of that salary.

Suck it up OP.

I find these threads fascinating. How are there companies and organisations out there still paying people like OP lots of money to do bugger all? Why did they recruit someone to do a job that doesn’t need doing? Why is nobody noticing that someone is being paid to do nothing all day? I’m a bit jealous of you yes OP. But mostly baffled that money goes to something that’s not needed. I wouldn’t feel very secure if I were you OP, surely someone will eventually notice and make you redundant.

In the meantime, you could use your time to make nice lists of things you can spend your £80,000 on. Or just go on MN all day.

I'm going to offer a different perspective. When we've had time off, its so hard to get back to the grind of boring work.

My old job was not boring, it was intensely stressful, and not rewarding. It was an essential part of holding a hospital together, which gave me a purpose, and that purpose took my mental health on a rollercoaster. I used to have a rule, that I just needed to get through my first day back without handing in my notice, because I had glimpsed what life could be like without the constant nagging terror that I had made an error.

It was gruelling, full of 12 hour days of banging heads together and difficult, emotional, conflict-filled discussions. I had two small children and really hated how it gave me so little energy for them.

Clearly I needed a change. Now I have a job which genuinely is kinda boring. By which I mean its frustrating, because I don't own my own area, that's why its boring, I'm not in control of it. Instead, I am reliant on persuading, cajoling and otherwise influencing change in a positive direction.

Although its a boring job at times, someone has to do the difficult bit of working out how change can move forward with the least damage. Its an intricate jigsaw of personalities and politics. My job is well remunerated, and I have a few grey hairs which helps. Yes there are mind-numbing, pointless meetings, so much hot air. The reason IMO is that decision-making is essentially about intellect versus power. The people with decision-making power have to have an audit trail of facts and of others that have advised them. The quality of that advice can determine whether a decision is made or not, and which way it goes. They are accountable, we are not. That's why its boring for me, I've got no skin in the game. On the other hand, I held the hospital in my hands, and it was terrifying. I know why they need me to give trusted, objective advice.

I think we are in a temporary, post-COVID, work from home bubble. These jobs will go to AI of some sort - all my colleagues use AI with impunity and it drives me mad. It speeds things up at times but fuels the lack of actual thought and we end up with garbage. But then was the work that people did before garbage as well? Yes, I think it was.

I work 4 days so I can pursue my (loss making so far) side hustle, its just about enough. I keep reminding myself that intense stress is worse than boredom.

I am on a sort-of similar page, OP. I came from zero money, so aimed to work in the highest-paying field I could think of at the time (finance in London), despite having ZERO interest. I’ve worked in the field 20 years and it’s enabled me to buy a house and have kids, and generally provide a much nicer lifestyle than what I had growing up. However, the daily grind has been really tough - it’s stressful and busy, and I’ve basically just done it fuelled by the fear of underperforming rather than being remotely interested. I have always dreamed of being a psychologist and just feel like I’m living a life that’s not “me”, and the older I get, the more it feels like I missed what I really wanted to become.
we all think that the more meaningful jobs should be better paid, but they simply aren’t, so for many of us the decision is money vs fulfilment. I might start a thread inspired by you to see if anyone has changed careers in mid life and how it worked out!

Contrary to popular belief though, my role has some meaning - I work to ensure that all our pensions increase in value as much as possible! And while it may be not my dream, I do all I can to do a good job.

Thinks she means local council admin staff

Local council admin staff process council tax, manage finances, do paperwork to organise social care.
Admin staff that still exist tend to be key people to making things work.

Can I have your job please. £80k to do fuck all yes please. I earn £29 and I'm run ragged.

X

Then start looking round for something better suited to you then.
Work out what salary you need to live on and go for it.

I agree 30 years is a long time to be stuck in a job you hate.
X

I used to have a “meaningful role” in teaching. Did it for decades until I realised I was burning out and the stress was killing me. I now have a pointless office based job which has its moments but in comparison my life is now an oasis of calm. It pays the bills and I can save up for nice holidays in my free time. I think a huge proportion of jobs are probably pointless ( hello 2020 lockdown) but as humans it’s good for us to be busy and have a routine. Don’t change in haste!

Well the writers of Yes Minister had to get their inspiration from somewhere..

Seriously…… Enjoy your 80k. The end.

Surely it's the opposite as she is saying she wants to do something with purpose, but due to her situation she needs the security this offers. I have been in a similar situation. I loved my job in the NHS. But my daughter needed more care and money for care, so I now do a pointless job that I am not proud of, but the pay is good and the hours flexible. I don't think maybe people get a job that pays enough, is enjoyable enough, and is meaningful enough. You have to prioritise.

I had a job like you. Way less money but I was tied. 17yrs. I just got another job, the mental torment I had... I wish I could of changed things sooner but you get to sucked in to the normal, whatever that is. At least you have status and the salary but thats the ties that bind aren't they?

Could you share with your husband so you both work and both care for your son?

Could you retrain as a SENCO then? You are interested in kids with SEN just a thought. Maybe wait until your child is older and see if that is a possibility. Can hubby go to work while you retrain? My first thought was become a teacher actually but u were