Nothing to do at work

[willithappen]

Posting for traffic and in hope someone can help me with a previous similar thread

I started a new job about a month ago. Doubled my salary and very near home so fantastic
However, I have had very little training, line manager has been away, I'm based in a different country from line manager
At the moment I have absolutely nothing to do. I'm spending my days just staring at a computer screen or sneaking at my phone. I dare not go on other websites in case computer is monitored
I have done any kind of training on the system we are using that I can find and as much research on the project as well but it's getting a bit draining now

Seems good on paper to say I'm getting paid this much to sit and do nothing but I want to be busy. The days are going soooo slowly.
When the site is quiet the site manager is quite good and tells me to pop home and finish up working from home for that day. All good and well but I still spend the whole time trying to keep that green on teams just so they don't think I'm taking the piss

I don't want to point out I have not much to do as they all keep saying it will get extremely busy soon so to enjoy the peace and don't want them thinking the role isn't needed (need this big wage increase too).

Any suggestions on things I can do to help pass the day? Something productive and not just scrolling Facebook/Mumsnet on my phone all day as I have been doing 😂

Take some knitting in. Headphones on. You’re probably listening to an important training session, aren’t you, not the radio?

I don't want to point out I have not much to do tell them and then you’ll have work to do

when your manager asks what you are up to what do you tell them?

I'd message someone else for advice , it can't be just one line manager who controls your input .
Is there any industry reading you can do ,
Can you read resume on previous projects to see what worked and what didn't ,
Can you prepare anything for the new project , pricing , manpower , pre-empt anything that could change or go wrong so have a contingency .

I do sympathise though , nothing to do for a day or so is lovely but not days / weeks.
It doesn't sound like your boss was prepared for your arrival or they would have had a schedule provided .

been there - it's fine while wfh but soul destroying in an office! If they're not even monitoring your work, I doubt they're monitoring your website visits tbh.... podcasts?

Can you touch type well? I had a job like this 20 years ago and learnt to touch type in the quiet bits. Still use it everyday.

@Whatacarryonthisis I'm on a contract (hence the extra wage because it's not fixed employment) and it can be cancelled with no notice so I'm very wary of telling them. The project is facing lots of delays, was originally meant to end in March next year but due to delays now it's already estimated to run to Sept 2024 and potentially longer. So it will get busy, just not until things kick off which could be ages since they are all arguing over which contractors to pick.

I'm going to try get some podcasts up and can put my AirPods in and listen to them. I'm just longing to be busy and have something to do. Even if there were other training courses online I could potentially do but wouldn't know the first place to start to even look!

Just tell someone at work.

Hey, I've done all the online training but with Jo away, I don't actually have any work I'm aware I need doing. Do you know if I'm missing something or is there anything I can do to help someone else until it gets busier?

They won't sack you if it's going to get busy soon. They might if they think you're intentionally doing nothing and trying to hide it.

@FiveMins I can touch type quite well just from generally being on laptops lots. Takes a moment to get used to different keyboards but just did the one that pops up on Google now and have a 76WPM speed which I think is quite good

I'm currently in the same position, the days drag especially now the winter is coming. I'm in a permanent role, I was tempted to look for another role but as people keep telling me "I'm getting paid to do nothing". Don't get me wrong when there is work I do it but 86% of the time I'm quiet.

Have a look at free online courses, podcasts or in my case watch netflix all day 😂

Training. Are there any external organisations or companies you work with that provide free training. If you search your job title and training see what comes up.
Anything related to project that could be research. So if you know you are working with x and y look at their companies, look at geographic location etc.
Basically anything that you could explain if your search history was looked at.
Any trade or work related publications to read paper or online.
If you work for a large organisation look at all policies, any general training IT, mentoring etc.

What's the job? Are you a site administrator or document controller?

I've had this recently. No one realised I was under occupied as they all assumed I had loads on! Just say and you'll get plenty of work I'm sure. They probably think they are easing you in gently.

Just say you have some short term capacity while you are waiting for X project to kick off and can you support with anything

I have similar issues at work and like others have suggested I do a bit of online training as well as bursts of exercise (WFH). Much of the dead time arises from having meetings in place which others cancel or postpone at short notice. It’s boring, frustrating, but having been overrun with work in my previous company I’m loathe to invite extra tasks (it gets v busy sporadically).

I don't want to point out I have not much to do

Why? At some point they are going to ask you to account for your time and what are you going to tell them?

So i’m not the only one! Feel much the same, the days drag on. I feel stuck to my laptop/phone on the off chance something comes in. It won’t stay like this though. November and December get a lot busier. And i imagine in your case if its due to delayed project starts then work will pick up. But i hate getting to the end of a day and feeling like what a waste… i earn really well too but it just doesn’t sit right. I want to feel i earned every penny. Get a sense of achievement. I’m hoping to switch jobs and some of my days i actually spend on my hobby which is what i’m hoping will be my new job one day.

Go back to your job description and the purpose if your role and how it fits in with the overall aim of the business. Then think, if you were your own line manager, what sort of things would you want the postholder to be doing to work towards the business goal? Is it possible at a high pay grade they expect you to be self directing and to know what needs to be done?
What will you be doing when the delays are over? Is there anything you can be doing in advance to prepare?
Can you research similar projects, either completed by your company or another and learn anything from them to help you prepare?
Are there any gaps in your knowledge of the business? Can you read up on it, or ask to shadow someone to learn more?

Glad to see I'm not the only one!