DH seems to have no work to do - should I worry

chocolatepenny89 · 2023-03-07T20:38:26+00:00

DH recently started a new job and has been there 4 weeks. During that time he has been given almost no work to do. He has tried to be proactive and seek out opportunities but it seems to be leading nowhere. He’s never had any issues at work before and only left his previous job because this one came with a significant payrise. But I know he’s now wondering if he’s made a mistake. I’ve tried to make suggestions about what he could do but I don’t know his industry so it’s hard to help. I’ve no idea what’s going on and trying to be reassuring. But honestly, I’m worried they’re just waiting until his probation period is up and then they’re going to get rid of him. Does this happen often? Any idea what might be going on? I just can’t even work out why they’ve recruited him. I work as well but we would struggle financially without his salary, plus it would really knock his confidence if this move doesn’t work out.

dontgobaconmyheart · 07/03/2023 20:46

Has he sat down with his line manager to ask about workload, workload expectations and fed back to them that his calendar has scope for further responsibility or workload? Has he had any performance review yet?

That's all he can do really.

They don't need to wait until the end of his probation to get rid of him if the role isn't required or there is some reason they aren't happy with him. A new job and therefore a probation is always a risk in that respect if you rely on that one salary. Even if you are good at your job it doesn't mean it's a good fit or that there won't be restructures that mean the role isn't kept on or head count not reduced.

He needs to speak to his line manager and request feedback. If you or he really think he might not get kept on then I would be job hunting just in case or at least preparing a CV, thinking about finances if the worst happens and looking at the job market.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 07/03/2023 20:50

I'm in a similar situation myself. Started mid Jan and not been given anything to do. I brought it up after two weeks and the boss said he was happy with my performance. Last week I said I have plenty of capacity if he wanted to offload something and he said it's just nice having someone around! I'm not on a small salary and I don't get it. I'm keeping busy with online training and trade shows.

Original poster

chocolatepenny89 · 07/03/2023 20:50

dontgobaconmyheart · 07/03/2023 20:46

Has he sat down with his line manager to ask about workload, workload expectations and fed back to them that his calendar has scope for further responsibility or workload? Has he had any performance review yet?

That's all he can do really.

They don't need to wait until the end of his probation to get rid of him if the role isn't required or there is some reason they aren't happy with him. A new job and therefore a probation is always a risk in that respect if you rely on that one salary. Even if you are good at your job it doesn't mean it's a good fit or that there won't be restructures that mean the role isn't kept on or head count not reduced.

He needs to speak to his line manager and request feedback. If you or he really think he might not get kept on then I would be job hunting just in case or at least preparing a CV, thinking about finances if the worst happens and looking at the job market.

Yes he has been very open with his line manager. It’s all really odd, they literally haven’t given him anything to do except a couple of very small projects which took half a day, ish. So there’s no way his line manager just doesn’t know.

We could survive without his salary but like a lot of families we really need two incomes.

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Original poster

chocolatepenny89 · 07/03/2023 20:53

I very tentatively asked whether they definitely still need him and if he should be looking elsewhere I think it made him feel really awful.

I will push it if I think he might be about to lose his role but I don’t know if I’m just overreacting.

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Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 07/03/2023 20:57

There really are some jobs that are like this. They suit the firm and some employees. Have had several jobs that pay well for 8 hours work that’s done in an hour or two, especially if you are capable and organised.
If it suits you Dh, then it’s probably all fine and might even be a cyclical job which has quiet moments and then a manic few weeks etc.

namechangeagaintoday · 07/03/2023 21:01

My work can be like this. Sometimes quiet for weeks and then 12 hour days and high stress.

It's too early to worry in my opinion.

roses2 · 07/03/2023 21:05

What industry is he in? My DH started a new job in November and it was only in January he was given work and now he's snowed under doing 50 hours per week!

Are they waiting for a project to come along for him to start on? Depending on the industry it might not be possible to start a project part way through.

Original poster

chocolatepenny89 · 07/03/2023 21:07

I don’t want to say the industry but yes it’s project based and yes they say they’re waiting for a project to come in…

I guess I’m just paranoid that no projects will ever come!

I can’t relate at all as I work in the NHS and whenever I’ve started a new job it’s just been straight in the deep end from day one. Usually with no handover!

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Original poster

chocolatepenny89 · 07/03/2023 21:08

Very reassuring that I may just be worrying far too early. I hope you’re right.

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Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 07/03/2023 21:10

@chocolatepenny89 Just seen your update - think you’ve answered your own question by comparing it to the nhs, which I believe (friends work in nhs settings) is incomparable to any other workplace!

Original poster

chocolatepenny89 · 07/03/2023 21:17

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 07/03/2023 21:10

@chocolatepenny89 Just seen your update - think you’ve answered your own question by comparing it to the nhs, which I believe (friends work in nhs settings) is incomparable to any other workplace!

This is true, obviously my workplace is at the other extreme.

But I’ve just never heard of a job where you barely get given anything to do. Unless you’re really awful and they don’t trust you and are about to fire you for being incompetent (which seems unlikely when they haven’t really given him the chance to fail) or they shouldn’t really have taken you on because they don’t have enough work to fill your time…

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roses2 · 07/03/2023 21:19

If its project based I wouldn't worry just yet. My DH felt the same - he was a bit deflated and worried after 2 months of nothing to do. Give it another month then he should get a bit busier.

WeWereInParis · 07/03/2023 21:20

I had a job like this once. It was pre covid so I was in the office full time so basically just had to sit at my desk doing nothing for 7.5 hours a day. I left after a few months because it was mind-numbingly awful.

WaitingForSunnyDays · 07/03/2023 21:20

I've had that before at the start of jobs, and also seen it with new hires. It's usually exactly what you've described, that there is a project about to come in and that is where he will be focused. Or, more often for my line of work, the existing workers all too busy doing their own jobs to spend time passing anything on and getting someone up to speed as that often takes more time than doing it yourself - obviously not great in the short term, but as new things come in the newbies get up to speed and are fine.

jay55 · 07/03/2023 21:21

It can be like this in my work.
Onboarding people can take an unpredictable length of time and sometimes it happens faster than expected and no one is free to get them started. Or we're waiting on the rest of the team to join before kicking something off.

mindutopia · 07/03/2023 21:24

He is an adult so I assume he can be on top of his professional prospects. I think it’s quite typical for the first month or so in a new role to be quieter than normal. I assume there is still background research about potential projects and/or professional development he could be doing. That said, even during quiet times I can’t say I’ve ever been too worked up about dh’s workload (he’s self employed). I’d be quite annoyed if he was stressing me out about mine. I’d feel very infantilised. Just leave him be and trust he can make sensible decisions about the path forward.

Benvandal99 · 07/03/2023 21:26

Is this his first project / consulting role op ? All sounds pretty typical of most , they’ll typically give you a good few months to onboard before they let you at a customer etc .

and then typically between engagements you might get weeks of downtime etc . Not a bad thing as it can be good to be able to take stock between things .

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 07/03/2023 21:27

@chocolatepenny89 You are comparing chalk and cheese though. Not all jobs are full on like the nhs were people never cease presenting with an illness/disease/emergency/accident. An awful lot of jobs are cyclical in nature or are feast /famine depending on when projects come in. As another poster has commented there is also the time lag effect of new people either finishing any training /on boarding and being worked into existing teams when the next project comes around.
Enjoy seeing your dh whilst you can - he maybe doing 50+ hours soon to get work completed!

luckystarg · 07/03/2023 21:29

My last job was like this. I was paid 70k and averaged 5 hours a week. I was bored stiff. Left after 18m for a better paid job, but I’m super busy. It’s amazing how depressed you become doing nothing and how little people support you because it seems like an easy life.

Lcb123 · 07/03/2023 21:30

I wouldn’t worry at this stage,
I started new job in Jan and they had assumed a lot of time for induction meetings training, ready etc. much more than I needed as I’d come from a similar job! My job is also reliant on others (applying for grants) so deadlines and therefore work load fluctuate a lot

Original poster

chocolatepenny89 · 07/03/2023 21:30

luckystarg · 07/03/2023 21:29

My last job was like this. I was paid 70k and averaged 5 hours a week. I was bored stiff. Left after 18m for a better paid job, but I’m super busy. It’s amazing how depressed you become doing nothing and how little people support you because it seems like an easy life.

Yes, he’s definitely becoming more fed up by the day. Not being busy doesn’t suit him!

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Original poster

chocolatepenny89 · 07/03/2023 21:32

mindutopia · 07/03/2023 21:24

He is an adult so I assume he can be on top of his professional prospects. I think it’s quite typical for the first month or so in a new role to be quieter than normal. I assume there is still background research about potential projects and/or professional development he could be doing. That said, even during quiet times I can’t say I’ve ever been too worked up about dh’s workload (he’s self employed). I’d be quite annoyed if he was stressing me out about mine. I’d feel very infantilised. Just leave him be and trust he can make sensible decisions about the path forward.

I’m sorry if you think it’s infantilising, but I genuinely am worried they might get rid of him and that would have a huge financial impact on us as a family.

If he thought I might lose my job he’d be pretty worried too.

This thread has been helpful and reassuring though.

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Boxe · 07/03/2023 21:32

If there’s genuinely no work for him and they wanted to get rid of him, they’d do it asap and not spend more money waiting another new months.

On that basis, I wouldn’t be too worried.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 07/03/2023 21:34

@chocolatepenny89 Him being bored is a separate issue. (and I hated being in slow jobs, but money! much prefer being manic at work).

Believeitornot · 07/03/2023 21:35

They won’t wait until probation is up, they’d get rid of him now!

I switched to a job that was much less stressful and busy. I get bored! This was a massive difference from my previous job where I barely got a lunch break.

he can just spend time reading up, researching and asking for a rough time as to when things peak etc. do the things you wish you’d do in a job but don’t have time.