I have nothing to do at work!

[notanotherfucker]

I am bored silly, have been for months. I am here to answer anything, so please, fire away!

I think lots of FutureLearn courses are free - some just charge for a certificate, but you can choose not to get one.

I can identify with you all so much, and as depressing as it is for us all, thank you for starting this thread as I know I’m not alone!

I started here about a year ago, I’m in an office on my own, in charge of a small development, there is very little to do, but what I do have to do is very challenging and I have had very little support or training, as the rest of my team (based elsewhere) are so exceptionally busy.

I feel completely demotivated, I’m losing confidence in my abilities and my mental health is suffering. . .but, the hours are perfect, the pay is good and there is no competition for annual leave, so I’m guaranteed to get the leave that I want.

I can go days without having anything to do at all, which wrecks my confidence and self worth, then will get something to deal with and panic that I can’t do it because I’ve lost my confidence, it really is a vicious circle; but as it is the perfect job on paper, I’m reluctant to look for anything else - plus I don’t think I’d have the confidence to look at the moment.

Myfanwy I am just the same. You lose all confidence when some work magically appears. Perhaps we can get through it together! Are you full time?

I’m only part time, which is a real blessing, but like someone else said I feel completely drained when I get home, the effort of doing nothing is too much!

I feel like such an ungrateful child talking to people irl, as quite rightly, what have I got to complain about - so many people tell me they’d give their right arm to be in my situation, but the comments on this thread have really resonated - it would be great if us non-working workers could support each other through it.

How are you all getting on with nothing to do? Today's been mainly looking for holidays

Can I join?? Full time 40 hours over 5 days..manic Monday to Wednesday but dead bored Thursday and Friday I ask for stuff but get nothing ..I’ve got two things I have to do and I try and drag them out for as long as I can. Also the office is freezing even in this lovely weather so not only am I bored I’m cold and bored !! Been here 3 months am actively looking for something else!

Of course, every one with no work is welcome! My office is freezing too...

Can you not surf the Web? Do house admin etc on Thursday / Friday?

You can download audiobooks from your local library website for free.

No chance of house admin at all. Too many people going round and about..who know I’ve asked for stuff to do but would object if I had anything other than their site on my screen. I’ve had my headphones half in one day listening to podcasts on my phone. Like you though they pay very well and it’s 6 mins from home so no travel. But I know I can’t stay I need more .

If you can have your headphones in, and slyly prop your phone up on your stapler you can put TV on, thsts what I do! I don't sit next to anyone though and have various important papers scattered across my desk so can easily cover up if anyone pops by

I had a job years ago like that. My main boss would be away for weeks at a time and nobody would notice that I had no work to do. I had an office to myself. If someone did come in I'd try to look busy, hiding my magazine. It was a big building with lots of departments. I went as far as picking a random name from the phone book and typing a letter to the person, pretending I'd known them years ago at school - making up a fake life and telling them about it. That's how deranged I'd become! No doubt the poor woman who got the letter was deranged trying to figure out who I was. My boss retired and I was assigned to another guy - a bollocks. I didn't stay too long working for him. It's soul destroying but I understand your reluctance to move for less money. I suppose you have to try to find ways to pass the time - get a few pen pals

There's a beginners writing course on futurelearn.

I've changed 16 shitty nappies today. I would swap with you in a heartbeat right now.

My job is the same at the moment. I fall between 2 departments and each assumes I work for the other so nobody gives me anything to do. I constantly ask for stuff to do but none of the people who could give me something to do think they have the time to go through things with me

I sit there mentally calculating how much shit I could get done at home with the kids all out of the house.

Just hope they never look through my browsing history

Oh and my question is what is the most embarassing thing you have looked up online on your work computer?

I keep getting popups for menstrual cups and leg wax which I have to close whenever anyone walks in

Hiya here's some cheery solidarity for you.

I also had a doing nothing all day job. I worked inputting sales into a database then manned the phone for those emergency cases where a delivery hadn't arrived on time or was wrong, or something needed last minute, or whatever.
The thing was, yes my job was necessary, but inputting the orders every morning took about 1 hour maximum, and the phone never rang. I was just sat there and couldn't leave untill 5:30!!! It was agony.

What you watching today?

Honestly I know you say the pay is good but you will go slowly insane... Do try looking around!

My first admin job was like this. I lasted 4 months. Had barely anything to do. Was usually finished by 9:20am and that was by dragging out the task. Spent my days browsing facebook , twitter & tumblr. But it was in a big office so people could see. The days dragged so much I felt so knackered and drained. Dont miss that

I also used the free time at work to find a new job lol

I was on secondment for a year not that long ago. The role was in another part of my department and pegged as an absolutely critical and exciting opportunity. I spent my days swinging on a chair in my office doing absolutely sweet FA. I had a friend in another department in a similar situation so we would have 90 minute coffee breaks etc. I loved it for a while as my previous role was mental but very quickly I felt very down as I felt I had nothing to contribute. I do long for it a bit now as work is so full on I never seem to see a light at the end of the tunnel. It would be nice to have a job that can be largely done in a day as opposed to nothing or everything.

We had two girls in our department with equally little to do. One has now left to a better job elsewhere.

I've managed to adopt the other girl into my team where we have Plenty for her to do! She's much happier, because there's nothing worse than constant boredom. I'm not sure her old boss is because they've lost the prestige of an assistant but ultimately if you choose not to give your employees work in the public sector then they'll be given work elsewhere...

I am both envious and shocked in equal measure by reading these posts.
Especially the poster who worked in adult social care senior planning role.
I have always suspected that my higher ups the food chain (I work in healthcare) do sweet fanny all in their offices all day, only deigning to enter the coal face to demand audits re service satisfaction feedback and documentation while the workers scurry here and there with a never ending list of tasks to complete whilst they miss their lunch and tea break and go home late once again whilst trying to complete said documentation to keep this KPI on track for the department. Meanwhile management are on £50k plus (often much more) and the workers are barely scraping £25. 😒

I too am absolutely shocked Sea by the utter waste of money that these non-jobs mean, I have a distant relative in the NHS who quite openly admits that she is paid a vast salary for doing very little, beyond working on various ‘strategy papers’. She easily earns well over £80k and, in her own words, wafts around doing nothing much, and because of the way her contract works she has huge amounts of holiday time as well. No wonder the Health Service is in such a mess but it seems that no one can tackle these issues.

I have an announcement, feel like I'm announcing a pregnancy but no!

I had work to do today, albeit for about 3 hours of the day....

You can always come and help me! I am a teacher of 30 7 year olds and no other adults! Never bored and never a moments peace!