To want to go home early as no work?

[Polarbearflavour]

New ish job. No IT yet as they are useless. Nothing to do.

I’m just sitting alone in my office playing on my phone. Most other people have already left. AIBU to go home and study for my (work related) qualification?

I am SO bored. Been here over 4 hours just doing nothing. I’ve read any related files and folders that I can find. Should I just sit here until around 4pm doing nothing so that I can say that I was at my desk all day?

I used to work for CS OP.
Be careful what you wish for....capita took over and now I work for them

Oh dear, someone's cage has been rattled!

From experience in past jobs, asking colleagues if I could help them lead to:

Colleague’s Manager snidely asking why on Earth I wanted to steal their work and told me to get on with my own work - which was nothing. Apparently that wasn’t her problem. So I spent the remainder of my time in that job on the Internet and taking long lunches.

In another job I was directed to a filing room and told to go through it all and anything older than 5 years was to be archived. Putting old files in archiving boxes.

I’ve come to the conclusion that most of my jobs have been Bullshit Jobs. There’s a book about that! It’s also got me thinking how many people sit at a desk all day doing very little?

JaniceBattersby - do you need a lie down?

Can you not do some work for your qualification on your phone as you clearly have internet access to be on here!

I've only had one job like it. It was in an organisation that was in the process of being closed down. It was miserable. Presenteeism at its finest.

I'd certainly be approaching someone and finding some work to get on with.
Just sitting there playing on your phone is ridiculous.
Can't someone give you some kind of log in so you can do your studying from home if you get someone's agreement? Can't someone print some material off for you to be getting on with?
What about shadowing someone, finding out information or reading policies?

@JaniceBattersby my thoughts exactly, how many people like the OP do we pay for on a daily basis in the Civil Service.

Why on earth should the OP deep clean the office? The taxpayers aren't paying her to be a cleaner. They're paying her to do a job that she cannot do due to circumstances beyond her control.

ilovesooty - due to the high security I can’t just “log in” from home. It requires a special laptop that takes weeks to actually get and other assorted software.

I AM shadowing someone - when they are in the office which isn’t often. I’ve read every single file in my office.

So is it better I just sit here quietly?

You have been hired as a middle manager.

I'm a senior manager and I'd xpect somone at your level to use some initiative and start getting on with it. Work out who your stakeholders are and go and speak to them about how your role interacts with theirs/supports them and get a plan together about what needs to be done!

Wooooooo I’m going home! Might not bother coming back on Monday!

Agree with Janice & mirren, surely people are shocked that civil servants are being paid to do ‘nothing’. There must be someone at a higher level who can give some direct guidance on what you are supposed to be doing.

Ok what foxinthemist said then. For a middle manager you sound bone idle and lacking in initiative.

Is the RAO around? They are always snowed under.
Initiative is good.

I think the OP posted before that she didn't like working and wanted to stay at home but her husband wanted her to contribute by working at least part time.

I'm beginning to feel some sympathy for him. Her attitude is appalling given the numbers of people out there desperate for a chance to get into employment.

I need to find a job like this....

I’m not going to start cleaning the building. That’s what the cleaner is for. We get on well and have a cup of tea together every morning.

I think some people take the “public servant” thing a bit too easily. Would you expect an MP/teacher/local government account etc to start scrubbing the floors?

I’m actually pretty lazy and unambitious.

It shows. Hopefully your manager is ok with that.

I wouldn't expect you to clean the office

But I'd expect you to do your best to earn the salary and generous pension that is being paid for by taxpayers.

At the very least I'd expect you to be calling your line manager to agree what work you can be filling your time with next week until the IT issue is sorted.

foxinthemist - my last appraisal was “very good” and I got a bonus so...it’s all about playing the game!

Go on OP just go home

Don’t worry darlings, I’m home eating chocolate cake now! Already decided to not go back next week so you can rest assured that no further tax payer money will be wasted. Well apart from what I’ve already been paid!

“Why do you want this job?”

“Um for money to pay my mortgage and my gas and electric and weekly shop.”

Only that’s not what employers want to hear so you have to lie with some bullshit using key words like team work, excellence, motivation etc.

I’m an interview pro!