More of a 'Am I Being A Thief'...

[AIBAthief]

I've been in a job for 10 months which I am paid to work 38 hrs a week.

Using advanced excel and basic organisation I can now do the job in roughly 10 hours a week. Outcome is better than it has ever been before so results are not suffering.

Boss has been told this (evidenced), on the past 4 occasions i have told him I don't have enough work to do, i've got a vague 'yes i'll have a think and get back to you' reply. On the last occasion I spoke to him on the phone and followed with a email setting out the exact process and way of working which meant I was now only working 10 hrs a week. No reply.

So now I work 10 hours on a Monday and spend the rest of the week doing what i want to do. Have been working from home since March so no requirement to be in the office. I don't hear from boss from one month to the next.

It has occured to me I could just take on another job and work it during the rest of the week when I am supposed to be doing this job. Friend said it's basically theft. I disagree as i'm salaried not paid by the hour.

So am I being a thief? Or no?

And yes, obviously public sector not private!

I'd be transparent with boss. 'I want to take on some outside work, however I would not let it impact the work I do in the full time role.'

Maybe on a self employed basis, as surely you can’t have two “full time” job. Good luck

I’m by no means an expert but check your contract , if you’re contracted to work those hours then your company could claim that any work you do for the other company belongs to them Especially if you’re using a company laptop or software licenses that belong to them

I did this in my last few months of my job. I got fast at my job that there wasn’t enough work coming in and nothing else for me to do. I spent the time side hustling so it wasn’t another job where I would be unavailable if needed.

I felt guilty; my side hustle turned into a full time business and I left to pursue the side hustle full time.

Most employers are fine with this as long as it doesn't compete with their business and doesn't impact your original job. For example dh runs his own business alongside his full time job, in a different industry. His main job is fine with this. It's best to be transparent with them.

Don't think you should go as far as getting another job unless you could in theory work it when you're not contracted to work but as you're not busy you are, but carry on doing nothing if you've been transparent and they've not given you more to do.

Another thing to consider would be if the current role Suddenly finds other work for you to do and you’ve committed to a second one

It’s not theft if you’re flagging up the issue but you may not be permitted a second job and it would show up in your tax code eventually and your employer would then know. Be upfront but expect a reduction in salary if you say you won’t be available certain days. Your employment is as much to be a resource for future fluctuations as it is to do today’s work.

I’m guessing your job doesn’t require you to log in / Tap in and out everyday but rather as long as you get your job done all is fine? You’re in a nice position.

My only comment would be to be careful - you’ve pushed this to your boss that you can get the job done faster, I would just tread carefully from here because you don’t want to suddenly find yourself being made redundant / hours cut because they can hire someone for one or two days a week to save money.

Like the person above, state you would like to take on additional work outside of your current role, you are confident it won’t interfere and you are just letting them know. Whilst you’re working from home, you can’t really loose. You’ve made your boss aware, they haven’t replied, likely aren’t too bothered. Whilst you’re working from home it shouldn’t be an issue - might be if next year we all have to return to offices.

Not theft but you normally have to declare any other forms of employment to an employer. You would have to be careful also that any other employment is not a conflict of interests. Also as you are contracted to work 38 hours a week you may be required to be available at any time during those working hours. Many people do have more than one employment so I'm sure it's a possibility.

Taking on another job - no

Doing qualifications to further your CV - yes, especially if they are relevant to your industry / role as you are enhancing their eployee skill base.

Could you not offer to help colleagues out?

A second job will screw you for tax. Maybe not the answer you’re looking for but worth re.

Agree with Mrs HoHo, you will need to declare any other employment.
Also if you work for the public sector there is a chance you could get redeployed for the 38 hrs to a different role.
Some of my colleagues were redeployed during the first stages to the pandemic. Obviously that’s happening less now that public sector services are mostly continuing in some form, but you need to be prepared for that and undertake some form of activity which allows you flexibility.
Have you thought about volunteering?

Do something that's a good use of the time but not committing the hours to someone else. Eg matched betting, something self employed where you're in control, training / learning.

Have offered to help colleagues, either no reply or they don’t have anything for me

Boss can’t cut hours as although I can do job in 10, at my pay scale other people wouldn’t be able to so he needs to keep my hours at 38 so the next person has available hours to complete job

Have done side projects without being asked and forwarded to manager, no reply and ignored

So for the last 4 months I’ve just though ah fuck it I won’t worry anymore and just enjoy my week instead.

I’ve done a few courses on udemy and brushing up on basic french skills

Do you not have a work contract to check in the first instance? Before I worked for myself my employment contracts always had clauses about other work, declaring hours etc.

You are doing your work and have explained, I would not mention it again and get on with what I was doing until more work is sent my way. X

Check your contract, mine says I need permission to take on another job.

It isn’t stealing to do your work more efficiently than they allow for. I’m in a similar position. People I work with seem to make such a meal of doing stuff, taking days to do what I can do in hours. I have asked for more work, always let them know when I have capacity, but rarely is it filled. I’ve used the time to do a work related qualification and do some other additional training. My clients are happy, my boss is happy, I’m way less stressed than at my last job (which, ironically, is where I was forced to find efficiencies in how I do things because they set very unrealistic deadlines).

I would do something else too. I did maternity cover PA roles in investment banking when I left teaching. I'd usually done everything by mid day, even in a very busy role. I used the time to type CVs for people at £20 a go & study. I didn't feel guilty tbh as I'd always tell my bosses team to shout if they needed any support . There were a lot of others like me who just used the time for social media,online shopping etc.

Dont take on additional work that means you CANT work your paid hours if something changes. But otherwise, not your problem. So long as your work is up to standard you're doing what you're paid to do.

if I was you I’d go on TikTok and check out all of the businesses people have set up over lockdown and pick one and have a go.

Sounds like the perfect set up to me. I’d probably rather work two 5 hour days and do whatever the fuck I like with the rest of the time.

I was in this exact situation.

I have second job and it’s honestly changed my life financially, paid off some credit cards and given me a larger security blanket.

Personally I’d go for it.

You’ve brought it to their attention and been ignored, in fact my biggest worry is you’ve made the business aware that they’re paying you to much and made yourself expendable.

Good luck!

If you take a second job, but you’re not using their systems to do it - then surely they can’t prove you’re not doing it outside of your job one working hours?

I think so long as you’re careful with it and make sure you’ve made job one aware (which I know I have to do) then it’s fine. What you do ‘outside’ of work is your own business.