to ask if anyone else is half-arsing their job?

[Spacemannn]

I work full time with two pre-schoolers (due to my part-time working request being declined). I get paid well (although not mumsnet well) for a mid-senior job, with no line management, but the bulk of my salary goes on childcare.

Since having my second child, I just cba anymore. I used to be such a perfectionist and always go above and beyond, but I just don't care as much anymore. I work hybrid, and on my WFH days I'm trying to squeeze in as many chores/life admin as poss in between tasks.

Is anyone else like this? Does it matter? I switch between feeling guilty, and then feeling like as long as I'm getting the work done and doing an ok job, that's fine? I still get paid the same whether I put in 70% effort or 100% effort. There are no promotion opportunities on the horizon, and I don't think I'd want the extra responsibility at the moment anyway.

Any tips for working smarter not harder? I'm organised, responsive and quick, so I don't think it's a case of me not adding value to the company...

After years of working in very demanding, full-on jobs in teaching and support services, I now enjoy a role which is much more flexible. Hybrid working is amazing - truly the best of both worlds! I can do the school run and attend any school events I want to and now work around that. Get loads done at home on my wfh days as I don't spend hours commuting or getting distracted by others in the office. Some days are very busy but most I can just complete all my tasks then get on with my life 😀 I spent too many years going over and above for a huge amount of stress and very little thanks!

@LolaSmiles I called it quiet quitting, but your quite right. I do the job I'm paid (peanuts) for and no more. I do however, manage to do that in less than half the time I'm contracted for, because I'm very good at what I do.

I find my focus has changed since having kids. I was all about my career before, now I do whats needed from me but nothing more. My salary is an enabler for my life.
I think covid has given me a ‘let’s enjoy life’ perspective … I no longer feel that working myself into the ground until I retire and missing out of family life is for me.

Or maybe some of us have been there, had the well paid careers, worked above and beyond but now have a change in our focus and happy to have stepped off the treadmill and tick over now.

Yup, I'm half-arsing it in some ways.

In a weirdly zen way, it's making me a better employee - I'm doing good work, not stressing about it.

I applied, found out I was pregnant, asked for a shorter FTC, they said they wanted me regardless.

Going on mat leave after 5.5m, it's become clear very quickly that the organisation is a dumpster fire, and my line manager is so overwhelmed that I've barely seen him. Meetings being cancelled is par for course across all functions.

So I don't care. I'm showing up and doing good work within the context of what is being asked of me.

I literally don't give a fuck if I get a contract extension or not.

Hubblebubble
I didn't see your post up thread. My quiet quitting was more a general observation so sorry if it sounded like it was a a reply to yours.

Your situation makes sense because you're doing what you're paid to do. People with more experience who choose to have a role that's not at their capacity shouldn't be expected to always be doing more than their role.

This is super common, I am the same right now (youngest is 1.5) and I really wouldn't worry about it. Most sensible bosses managing knowledge workers would say you are paid to do a job, not to work a certain number of hours. As women we are only paid for about 80% of our work anyway when you look at the gebder pay gap, and do way more ‘unpaid’ raising the next generation of workers, and this society makes it pretty much impossible to parent and work without a lot of support from a ‘village’, which a lot of ppl just don't have. You are juggling a lot with young kids and a job and it's natural for the balance of your focus to shift and adjust. Maybe in a few years when they are older you’ll feel you want to be more invested in work again. Maybe not. Either is fine, there is no law says you have to be career-focused! But it really is just a season of life. A friend of mine works at a senior level for a big bank and he was talking recently about this kind of guilt. Fortunately his work has a great culture and he was able to talk about it with colleagues at a range of levels. They all told him in various ways that they view the company as an ecosystem - before he had kids he worked super hard, invested so much time and energy in work that this allowed those ppl juggling other priorities some breathing space. Now he needs the space and others are able and willing to invest the time he can't. In a few years, when his kids are older, he will likely be in a position to pick up more of the slack again to let others breathe. I think this us a fantastic attitude to with. Basically it’s ok for us all to be human!!!! Xxx

I half arsed it for over a year and got a way better bonus than the year prior when I worked really hard so I say carry on! Everyone is replaceable so put the effort into the things that matter to you so long as you can keep your colleagues/clients happy and not risk being sacked of course!

To be honest I'm not sure, my stepdad was in planning law. But at his level the whole thing is a giant boys club, everyone gets jobs based on who they know/are related to, even now. His son has followed in his footsteps and having the family name definitely helps.

I digress but I can only assume the harder work is done lower down the structure. It sounds like it.

It sort of depends how old you are. 50+ and you can probably get by till retirement. Anyone younger working like this and you will be out of work for a long time, AI is coming for these jobs faster than you can imagine. The guys who collect your bins don’t get to work at half speed and AI won’t be bothering them.
BTW it’s also why this country is fucked. Low productivity combined with a desire for American tax levels and Scandi benefits.

Well I guess if the work is getting done then fair enough, it does just leave a bit of a sour taste to those who can't wfh and have pre school kids. Suppose I do feel a bit envious people who wfh can do this but when u have young kids you're not the type to lie in bed til a minute before your day starts whereas some do. As long as it doesn't impact the public trying to get in touch and you have a set routine of only working on computer tp do tasks then I would most likely do the same! X

Any jobs AI takes are not going to be based on either the current holder being over 50 or the level of effort they're putting in. Neither of those things affect whether a job is easily replaceable by new technology or not.

Absolutely true. I work in a sector that’s become more and more automated over the last 20 years and as a consequence, much of the work can be done offshore cheaper.
Meaning I’ve been made redundant twice (in 2009 and 2020).
In both cases I was a team manger, constantly one of the higher performers and always going above and beyond. However I was one of the highest paid of my grade and therefore, regardless of any other factor, that was a huge factor in my redundancy.

So now I’m 50+ and happy to tick over in an admin role that keeps my brain working without stretching me and enables me to have the best work life balance I’ve ever had.

I could’ve written this myself. I spend probably half of my contracted hours actually working - work smarter not harder is my motto, and I now use AI to do a lot of my tasks. Letters I would’ve taken half an hour to write now take me 5 minutes. New processes? Half an hour once I’ve edited the output from AI. My emails ping on my work phone, if I’m either away from my laptop or engrossed in something else, I can reply from my phone. I don’t feel guilty, I’m completing all of my tasks to a good standard, my housework is getting done, and I’m enjoying watching box sets in the background. And believe me when I say that the entire company would notice if I wasn’t getting my work done.

Good for you!! 😘 And everyone else half arsing it. All the jobsworths complaining need to get a bloody life. If this was a small business on its knees I'd feel a little different. If it's supporting vulnerable people who are not being helped because of it then I might say it's unfair and come on. But I doubt that's the situation here.

I work 2 days a week for a company that pays very poorly. All of us are graduates and very experienced. I get my work done in half the time and therefore feel like I earn twice the wages. Working from home ofc. Rationalise it to myself that they are exploiting workers by paying virtually minimum wage.

I’ve been doing FT WFH for more than 2 decades. Much more efficient and have always got good reviews and colleague feedback. However recently been promoted without a pay rise to go with it (🤷‍♀️) so I decided to stop doing all the extras. Ironically, the feedback I’m now getting is better than ever and my work life balance is much better.

I now actually follow the Health & Wellbeing guidance our company peddles and ensure I take regular breaks to move and stretch, and get some fresh air.

In my book, walking down stairs to peg out my washing outside fits the guidance perfectly!

@Tillyteacup I do the same job. Unbelievably stressful and also mind numbing at times. Hours spent outdoors watching the kids. Not to mention the nappy changes and cleaning which are constant. Personally I cannot wait to leave.

Fridays I'm half arsed I do the minimum they think fuck it as I watch others go home 30 mins earlier than normal yet my bitch manager makes me stay till 5 no sneaking off for Molly. The phones/emails are dead by 3pm on a Friday. But nope I've gotta stay bee there 4 years and nothing has ever happened

Very interesting thread - I worked 16 hr days for 20 yrs and completely burnt myself out. Never saw kids, couldn’t engage with wife, missed lots of family things, rushing everything. I got to a fairly senior level but it came at a HUGE personal cost physical and mental health wise. The only good thing was the wake up call - always put your health and family before work everyday of the week. Find a job that works around your priorities- don’t not shift your priorities to suit the job ie time away, no time to exercise, eating crap. Some industries just have a toxic work culture - avoid them at all costs. Don’t half arse stuff because that’s a unfulfilling way to live but find a job with longevity, balance and security. Put this over big jumps in salary and title. They do not put ‘great middle manager’ on ur gravestone - family, kids, health, moments of joy are absolutely everything.

So you expect nursery staff to work to capacity to look after your kids, yet you can't be bothered to.
This attitude is why the country is where it is. Very 'I'm alright Jack' and sod everyone else.
Imagine of we all did this, nurses, teachers, airport staff etc.
If you're not motivated in your job, why not look for something else more suitable.

I've ended up being massively shat on for various reasons over the last 30 years. Lack of self-confidence, inertia and pension were some of the reasons I never moved on.

I can achieve so much more in a short time than colleagues appear to, but it's never acknowledged. I have a shit line manager who monitors my being green on Teams to an inordinate degree!

I am doing my job. I might not be doing it brilliantly, but if I actually wasn't doing it they wouldn't be paying me every month.

Are you really saying there are no mediocre teachers or health care workers out there?

I admire anyone who goes into that kind of profession. I don't have the energy or work ethic for it, I can fully admit that. Which is why I work in Marketing.

As long as the required work gets done who cares if you are half arsing it or not?! Unless your role is one that specifically is for advancing the company then you are doing your job fine.
eg. If your job was to put ten things in a box, who cares if you take five minutes or a week to do it?? You’d be an idiot to make the task take longer than needed. You crack in a you are and well done for making your life more efficient 👍🏻

I love that you say both this and that you charge £1500 a day to clients and spend half of it on mumsnet. Pretty sure that isn’t giving 100% 😂