Who else admits to having a Lazy Girl Job?

[isolabella]

Read this interesting article and realised I finally have what I've always wanted: a lazy girl job that leaves me lots of time for family, exercise, pursuing my interests, life admin etc. Zero guilt.

In my case this is made possible by having put in the effort early on in my job so I've earned trust and I'm efficient so do all my tasks and deal with emails quickly so I can chill out again and do what I want: walk in the woods, go for a run, cook, have a coffee and chat with family. Always take my phone with me so can pick up any calls. Only go to the office once a week max (often not even that) since Covid, thank the lord.

Also made possible because people in my organisation aren't exactly highly performing or skilled, so being efficient when it counts stands out and makes you look like you do an amazing job.

Anyone else?

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/09/gen-z-lazy-girl-jobs-tiktok-work

I’ve had really high pressure jobs and have managed large teams, since having my youngest I now work a few hours a day in a job I can do with my eyes closed, and I love it. I feel like if I need to step back into a full time role or a more demanding role I can. I was made redundant from my prev job and I was really cut up, Ive taken a loss of earnings in the newer job (but would have had to pay huge childcare fees anyway so I’d rather take the loss and be at home) but I am much happier. I like i have the experience to go back to an un-lazy girl role if needed but I now realise that (some) companies really don’t care about you, so if you can have an easier job and it in some ways fulfils you then why not. Now I work to keep money in the bank that’s it, I love my mornings and afternoons with my toddler and I also like I have my own money. DH works full time but its very flexible so he is around a lot and again he loves being around with the kids. I think it depends what you want out of a career/life and what suits you. Basically the less I can work the happier I am 😂

@isolabella I promise you it's not that hard to find rewarding work that brings out your creative side and allows you to contribute meaningfully to society and the lives of others. Maybe it's not the spreadsheets and processes in your current role.

Developing people is a passion of mine. I could sit back and scrape by for a wage but why would anyone choose that?

Are you actually happy being stagnant 8 hours a day 5 days a week? You won't be building anything long term for yourself.

Mine is a mix. I work almost entirely from home apart from certain events I have to attend. The events are really hard work, often involve a lot of travel and I find them exhausting - but it averages out at about one every 4-6 weeks (sometimes a few closer together but then a longer period without) so it’s very manageable.

In terms of my workload - there are periods of high demand/ intensity where I’m flat out, but also plenty of times where I’m far less stretched and able to fit in some exercise/ jobs round the house/ take a longer lunch with a friend. That’s more because the hours are very flexible though - it always gets made up for somewhere!

Overall I’m really happy with the balance and flexibility it provides.

Stagnant eh?

Developing people is a passion of mine. That sounds pretty patronising and controlling. I'm OK with my lazy girl job and stagnant life, thanks!

This is me!!

I had a job in an organisation that was about to be wound up where there was basically no work! My colleague and I were done by 10am. We designed her new kitchen, proof read my stepdaughter’s dissertation, booked holidays, all sorts and we were both bored out of our minds. This went on for six months. I was the most stressed I’ve ever been, it was a nightmare.

I’m with you op. I get paid well and live well. What’s not to like?

I love going into work, focusing on work and then having all of my free time where I can't do any work and am not expected to. I'd hate working from home or sitting behind a desk all day, no wonder people who do so look to do other stuff too during the workday!

No. I'm in the same line of work, but as I take it seriously, I make an unusually good salary for it. But then, the people I work for are clever enough to make rather than more than a spreadsheet.

But then, the people I work for are clever enough to make rather than more than a spreadsheet. Come again?

I have an employee who seems to have decided to take this route with her job - except that it’s very much noticed by her colleagues and her boss (me) and seriously affects those working around her. At the moment she is utterly taking the piss with appointments 2-3 times a week in working hours. She is pregnant so there isn’t a thing we can do as apparently every one of these appointments is due to her pregnancy (she’s 5 months pregnant and has had 14 appointments and a 2 week period off work already, and it isn’t a high risk pregnancy) but what she doesn’t realise is that when she comes back from maternity leave, if this style of working continues she’s going to be on performance management and then be sacked if she doesn’t improve.

I work hard in a stressful full time role for shit money (public sector) although I do get the washing done during the day. I enjoy it but I do feel like a mug pretty often - could I be earning the same for something less stressful? But I live somewhere with a seasonal economy, and permanent jobs that aren't totally shit are hard to come by. Plus a CS pension and 40 days' holiday keeps me here. I just wish we were better resourced and had admin support.

Lolling at the "won't read the Guardian" comment though. What are you scared of: that reading one article will turn you into a woke lefty?

@isolabella

It's not patronising or controlling for me to say I like developing people. I'm in a managerial role. I was illustrating how it's possible to care about and enjoy what you do rather than be a lazy girl optimising spreadsheets or however you describe your work.

You're stagnant by your own admission and seem to be proud of it?

The OP isn't talking about underperforming, but jobs that don't require much work to seem like a high performer.

And while I think the 'lazy girl' moniker is stupid we can't deny that employers are trying to squeeze more and more out of us. Whatever happened to turning up on time, doing what you're paid to do, and no more? Why the constant obsession with 'striving'?

If everyone wanted to become CEO there'd be nobody left to do the actual work...

Aah, the dreaded (middle) managers! I somewhat doubt I would feel much benefit from the 'development' efforts of some management android who has swallowed a self-help handbook and gets their wisdom from women's networking events or some such.

Thanks for your concern but I enjoy my lazy girl job and the free time it affords me to pursue things that are genuinely interesting. Not everyone's job defines them. I like being lazy - in fact laziness is prerequisite for creativity IMO. 😏

I don't have a lazy girl job but I do try to do the absolute minimum I possibly can without getting sacked.

I think humans are lazy by nature. Once you've hunted your bison and gathered in all the fruit and veg, what more is there to do really?

It just seems depressing AF to have a job in which you feel this way. My job doesn't define me but I enjoy working with people and helping make their lives better (not as twee as it sounds) and then fully enjoying my time off. Its possible to have a balance without doing stuff during work time because you're so unstimulated- if people are in these roles don't blame them one iota for taking advantage.

Also appreciate fortunate to have a job I genuinely love (caveat with I would absolutely definitely without question still quit if I won the lottery).

I did have a lazy girl job and then set up my own business, I miss some aspects but would never go back personally!

"ps: I think the “lazy girl” tag is a catch-all U.S. college/ GenZ term. It’s used in other contexts too."

That's depressing to know. Basically gen Z love their sexist stereotypes

Plenty! Sing, make pottery, tell stories?

@Yorkshirelass04 is right. I wrestle with whether I'm just indoctrinated by capitalism, but I think it's not that. I think working hard is a moral imperative.

Sure, we all have to work. But if we were all discerning, proactive, able and willing to work hard, there would be fewer shit employers and fewer shit jobs. If you look at your admin work and try to do it as best you can, get skilled, then you can take on a new admin role in an organisation doing something genuinely good for the world. You can improve the admin systems, (as a pp said sarcastically), then resources get used better and humanity benefits.

We don't live in a subsistence economy (even given the cost of living crisis). We have privilege. We can all hold out for a job with purpose, for employers who are thoughtful and kind. Sweeping a street or running a company all has to ladder up to a purpose - probably the highest purposes of helping others, serving our planet, repairing the damages of capitalism, leaving a better world for our children.

Imagine if every worker took on the responsibility for themselves. We don't have to burn out, but we DO have to "go above and beyond" and find a purpose to do this for, beyond our own short term interests.

yes, thats what I mean, plenty of the nice stuff to do, like making bowls, singing and telling stories.

I moved into the public sector after I had kids. I used to look down my nose at these jobs as an easy option. Work your hours. No more. Flexi time. Then I realised that I needed that made the shift. I am so much happier. Maybe it's the other system that's wrong? Not one that actually gives you a life ?

I wonder this too. Like you, I used to think those public sector workers were a bit lazy. I was working flat out pre-children and would look at my friends in the civil service and teaching who would be able to go out for dinner on weeknights and take multiple holidays every year and find it kind of funny when they said they worked hard, because their definition of hard work was so different to mine! Then I had children and ended up quitting my job entirely to be a SAHM because my work hours were so incompatible with raising children. So now I'm the lazy one Maybe my friends had the right idea all along prioritising work life balance.

But at the same time I'm enjoying my break from the workforce and it would not have been possible if I hadn't saved the amount of money I did when working (as my savings now provide me with passive income) so maybe it was the right way to do it after all. I guess every choice has pros and cons.

@isolabella

You're not just lazy, you're actively spiteful about people who have careers. Maybe the managers you have met are androids who spend too much time at womens networking events. But maybe you haven't had enough of a career yet to find out to the contrary.

Maybe you are right, but it sounds like sour grapes mostly.

Ps: those of us in those mind-numbing corporate careers that you speak of, have a bigger social circle, amazing contacts, get to travel, more income to spend on holidays and hobbies, nicer houses, more treats and generally get more out of life. Plus when we are looking to retire younger than average you'll still be a PA doing jogs round the park with your phone!