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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Overpaid but hardly any work to do!

75 replies

Amibeingdaft81 · 14/05/2019 10:44

Single mother to two primary children

My current job I’ve had for 6months. It’s largely home based.

Based on my experience and qualifications, I secured a salary that is London level and so around 25% minimum higher than local for same role.

Part time.

However there is hardly any work to do! My boss is very very relaxed (her business). What I do, I do very well and she seems happy but there’s so little to do that I’m able to do gym, housework, personal admin, friends for coffee.

Seems ideal BUT I can’t shake feeling guilty.

Would you stick at it because I’m many respects - it’s perfect. Or would you feel too guilty?

OP posts:
Original poster
Amibeingdaft81 · 14/05/2019 12:11

And I will continue to ignore you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Amibeingdaft81 · 14/05/2019 12:12

I’m not too concerned about job security but certainly something I shouldn’t be complacent about

OP posts:
LemonTT · 14/05/2019 12:15

I sometimes get that type of work. It’s great to a certain extent. But what happens is that your focus on the work erodes so you miss or forget to do things. Being busy breeds efficiency. Not being busy makes you oddly inefficient and quite flakey.

wellhelloyou · 14/05/2019 12:15

Enjoy it. You're not tied in to do this until you retire.

Make a savings goal and once you hit it, look for other work.

Butteredghost · 14/05/2019 12:16

TinselTimes has it - don't think of it as being paid to do nothing, you are paid to be available when needed, and that is quite reasonable.

BrainSurgeon · 14/05/2019 12:17

I'm in a relatively similar situation OP, but only for a short period of time as I'm due to start a full time course in September.

I totally relate with the feeling of guilt, but then I think the business owner must know what they are doing and if they are happy with it, why should I worry???

However if it really bothers you I think you have tow options: one is to straight out ask for more work or additional responsabilities in the company, or two, tell them you're happy to be paid by the hour and so you can bill the actual hours you're working. I know this second option sounds bonkers but at the same time it would be the fair thing to do..... right?
If income is an issue then you can perhaps do additional freelance work and that could give you some independence as well as job satisfaction.

Nice problem to have, I konw!

blueshoes · 14/05/2019 12:18

I would have niggles at the back of my mind of: being made redundant, the business failing because the boss is so relaxed or the business being a criminal front. The last is a little far fetched, but worth giving it some thought ...

IAmTheChosenOne · 14/05/2019 12:20

I feel your pain OP ! I utilise my time doing distance learning. I cant leave my desk 'just in case' but there is barely ever any work.

profumoaffair · 14/05/2019 12:21

Sounds perfect, OP! Don't feel guilty! But don't get complacent, either. Job security could be an issue in the future. Just make sure you put aside some savings, keep your skills up to date, etc.

tigerdog · 14/05/2019 12:23

I’m in a similar-ish position OP, and I am quite uncomfortable with it at the moment. I am mainly home based and have hardly anything to do at the moment. I just feel embarrassed by it and I am dying to get my teeth into a really interesting piece of work.

My situation is slightly different as this has happened post mat leave, and the organisation are probably on quite shakey ground, having given my previous role to someone else without discussion or justification.

tigerdog · 14/05/2019 12:25

LemonTT you have described the situation perfectly there.

NoSquirrels · 14/05/2019 12:26

Fucktif has it - being underemployed can really start to be an issue after a while - you can lose your job mojo, you get inefficient, it can be bad for your self-worth as you question things.

Can you add any extra value in the role as you have free time? Pitch for more work, or look for places to expand in the role - every business has efficiencies that could be made if someone could take on a bit of strategic thinking. It sounds like a perfect job in many ways so a shame to chuck it in if you can mould it to be a better fit?

Original poster
Amibeingdaft81 · 14/05/2019 12:26

So interesting to read others in similar situations

OP posts:
CycleWoman · 14/05/2019 12:27

I was in a similar situation and after about a year I hated it (I was in that situation for 2.5 years). I worked in an office but most people turned up late and left early and there was virtually nothing to do (it was also very well paid!).

I felt really guilty about it but most others didn’t give a hoot!! To get over the guilt I:

  1. Always mentioned that I was not busy and asked for more work (it never came but I felt happy I’d not been hiding the fact).
  1. Did CPD. Stuff that benefited me professionally but also would be useful to the company (so quiet I needed up doing a post graduate qualification!)

In the end I left and got a new job as I felt so bored it was affecting my mental health, my confidence and my career progression. But! This was all pre kids.....I think if I had that job and kids I probably would have stuck with it!

SummerInSun · 14/05/2019 12:29

Are you sure that the person whose business it is knows this? If you have special skills / are very good, she may well be happy with overpaying you so that she has you there, ready and in position, to do the work when it comes. But equally, would she like you to be using the time to help her win work, or doing some extra training in a related field so you can offer even more? I think it's fine as long as you have had the "I have a lot of spare capacity at the moment, is there anything else I can help with" conversation.

I'd be cautious because I had a colleague who thought our job was like this, but when our boss realised how little the guy was doing, he was really angry.

Sarcelle · 14/05/2019 12:31

Find a hobby, get creative. Fortune is smiling at you at the moment so embrace it.

dolorsit · 14/05/2019 12:32

I've been freelancing from home for years earning mostly London rates.

It's a bit different as I don't normally have fixed hours during which I work however I did have one job where they paid me for a minimum ten hours a week regardless of how many hours I worked.

As I can be quite efficient I often didn't work those hours so I spent the time reading industry press or developing certain skills. I also didn't always charge for extra hours when they occurred.

If I had set hours I wouldn't leave the house so unless your boss has okayed this I would feel uncomfortable being elsewhere.

On the other hand if your boss does know I would worry about job security. However, if you are particularly skilled/good at your job then your boss may take the view that they are paying you a retainer so you are available when needed.

Stick with it for now and if possible use the time to develop your skills to enable you to do your job better/quicker.

HollowTalk · 14/05/2019 12:35

Is the company struggling, OP? Is there anything else you could become skilled in which would help the company or help your own future?

Thesuzle · 14/05/2019 12:36

Develop a job on the side which is yours, you are already at home, with a phone, mobile, computer, time etc. Use it

Gigglinghysterically · 14/05/2019 12:38

I once worked in finance directorate of a university. I left after 5 months because I really couldn't hack that there was so little work to do. There were 3 of us in a small office in this position. The others had started out there but I had come from the private sector where I was used to working to very strict deadlines and working really hard to get things done and working over to ensure month-end routines were on time. To go from that (which is the norm in private sector) to having so little to do in the public sector was so hard and demoralising.

Gigglinghysterically · 14/05/2019 12:44

It is probably a good job that you aren't interested in job security because if this is a private business and your employer is happy to overpay you for not doing much work then it doesn't say much for their business acumen.

It couldn't be some kind of weird front for a dodgy business could it? Grin

PugPupsMum · 14/05/2019 12:46

I'm jealous!

Stick with it and get yourself a side project, either volunteering or a little side business you've always wanted to start.

ajandjjmum · 14/05/2019 12:46

Although you might be earning London rates, you are saving your employer the overheads of keeping an office running, with all the costs incurred.

And it's good to have time for MN! Grin

PamelaX · 14/05/2019 12:55

I would use that time to get more qualifications, pass some exams.

It keeps you busy, gives you a focus, keep you up-to-date, improves your cv.

You can then lie on your next job about working part-time because you were concentrating on your studies or something. There's only so much you can blag if you have next to nothing to do at work.

MoodLighting · 14/05/2019 12:55

I hate being underemployed! I'd always fill the time with something useful to the project - usually research.

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