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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is an awful first week?

72 replies

AwfulFirstWeek · 08/11/2023 12:21

Started a new job this week. It’s hybrid, 2 days in 2 offices and 3 days WFH.

Monday - collected a laptop and WFH. Had some online onboarding/learning to do.

Tuesday - WFH. Had some introductory meetings over Teams. Rest of day finishing online learning.

Today - First day in first office. My line manager isn’t here, they are WFH. The office is 3 quarters empty, apparently it has been a ghost town since COVID. I had an hour with a HR person to have a tour and meet some people. But I’ve spent the majority of the day reading documents on the intranet. Havnt been given any tasks to do or asked to shadow anyone. A lot of people have gone off for lunch but I feel too awkward to sit with them as I don’t know them.

Is this what hybrid working is like or is does this sound like an awful first week? :(

OP posts:
EvilElsa · 08/11/2023 13:04

I wouldn't say awful. Underwhelming maybe. I'd say pretty normal these days after covid and with hybrid working. I'd be quite happy as I can't stand shadowing people and am happy just to get on with things myself.

ConfusedandLostt · 08/11/2023 13:05

5 weeks into a new role here and feel pretty lonely and shit too. Been brought in because everyone is "so busy" but what I'm observing is not very efficient people trying to get involved with other peoples work.

No amount of asking for more or offering to take things on is helping so I'm just quietly doing my own thing for now. So no advice, but solidarity.

ky7sa · 08/11/2023 13:05

Sounds like you work in the charity sector, possibly even in my company 😂

LuciferRising · 08/11/2023 13:10

5 weeks into a new role here and feel pretty lonely and shit too. Been brought in because everyone is "so busy" but what I'm observing is not very efficient people trying to get involved with other peoples work.

Can you ask for your objectives or write your own and get them approved - then kick off the work?

BubziOwl · 08/11/2023 13:11

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 08/11/2023 12:48

I've never 'shadowed' anyone in my first week, its always online training, getting IT sorted, giveb some atuff to read about the work i'll be doing and ask any questions that have come up and then off to start the work

Same here, and I'm talking about pre-covid office based jobs with no WFH. First weeks are usually rubbish across the board ime. Just hang on and see how it goes OP.

MidnightMeltdown · 08/11/2023 13:11

What do you mean 'shadow' somebody? Are you a work experience student? I'm not sure why that would be necessary for someone in an office environment.

It's a bit crap that your manager hasn't made the effort to come in, but maybe they have a good reason.

Violetparis · 08/11/2023 13:12

Sounds normal in the new world of hybrid working. I agree it is awful, I think many teams no longer care that much about how new starters settle in or how difficult it is when you are new and have no colleagues around you in person.

grrrrarrg · 08/11/2023 13:12

PictureFrameWindow · 08/11/2023 12:25

Sounds pretty normal tbh.

Agree. Most of my first week or so at a new job seems to involve a lot of sitting around doing nothing.

StillWantingADog · 08/11/2023 13:14

Sounds very similar to my job when I started 2 years ago. All worked out ok. As a team we try and all come in on certain days which helps a lot with getting to know them and the work. Is that an option going forward?

ConfusedandLostt · 08/11/2023 13:14

@LuciferRising I've actually got a "catch up" meeting this afternoon so have written a rather extensive list of questions in an attempt to find out what, if anything, they actually expect of me and for a time line of when it going to happen

wannabetraveler · 08/11/2023 13:14

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. It's your first day in the office - I think it's incredibly poor form that your line manager isn't there to greet you and manage your first day in. Barring some emergency of course - and he/she should have contacted you directly to let you know.

I'd be really miffed.

Brexile · 08/11/2023 13:15

YABU I'm afraid. Get a job as a kitchen porter or a fruit picker (OK, season's over but YKWIM) if you want to see what an awful week looks like. ;)

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 08/11/2023 13:15

Sounds very normal to me. The first couple of weeks are normally induction and training and maybe some light work tasks.

EmmaDilemma5 · 08/11/2023 13:17

Every first week I've ever had; WFH or office based, has been boring and full of meets and greets and e-learning. What were you really expecting? To get stuck into the job without any training?

I think your expectations are off to be honest. Have a little patience and let your role develop gradually. People still have their full on workloads even though you're induction period.

WhatGoesUpMustComeDown · 08/11/2023 13:18

First weeks are always like that. I work contracts and have a 'first week' about twice a year - it's always a bit frustrating and awkward and boring and I always feel like I'm not really earning my money or doing my job.

It will get better as soon as you're properly into the work.

Picklewicklepickle · 08/11/2023 13:20

Sounds normal to me, in all my jobs I’ve been given about 2 weeks of protected time to work through trainings and on boarding before being assigned any actual work. It’s quite a highly regulated industry though so there’s always tonnes of training. The worst was when my computer was delayed for 2 weeks for some reason and I had sit and read paper copies of SOPs, never been so bored in my life!

vivainsomnia · 08/11/2023 13:24

First two days doing training and reading. Totally normal. Today you were supposed to meet with your boss which should have been a productive day. Some thing happened so you're bored.

It happens. You're very quick to feel demoralised.

CornishGem1975 · 08/11/2023 13:28

Sounds a lot like my first week in my new job, seems pretty usual. Just roll with it, if it's anything like my job soon you'll be up to your eyeballs so enjoy the slow pace of life!

ManateeFair · 08/11/2023 13:30

The having nothing to do, reading stuff on the intranet etc does sound fairly normal for any first week, hybrid or not. I know it's boring, but I think pretty standard.

For a hybrid role, I would certainly expect your line manager to be there for your first couple of days at least, though, and to make arrangements for your office days to match up for a while so they can support you. It is definitely a bit harder to get to know colleagues in a hybrid role, but I suspect you will settle into it. Most people have got to grips with it after a while where I work, which sounds similar to yours in terms of working patterns. Some managers are definitely better at inductions than others though.

If you haven't already, ask your manager for a list of people you could set up some introductory calls with - just so they can talk you through their job and how your paths might cross, and you can introduce yourselves and just get to know them a bit. It's a really good way just get your head round who's who and how the teams work, and the more people you have those conversations with, the more people you'll have to say hi to on your office days. And it'll be good to show that you're being proactive too.

Guibhyl · 08/11/2023 13:31

YABU and a bit needy and dramatic. It's not their job to bend over backwards to make sure you're having a fantastic first week. Other people have work to be getting on with and stuff to do and you need to do your training and get up to speed with all the systems etc. Why do you need someone to shadow? is there something particular that you need to learn how to do that involves following someone around/looking over their shoulder? Shadowing is not very efficient for anyone involved and often not needed if comprehensive training is provided.

Sounds like you are wanting to be 'wowed' by the job. You've been there 2.5 days. Give it time!

KeepSmiling89 · 08/11/2023 13:46

That sounds pretty standard OP. If you're keen to hit the ground running, could you get in touch with your manager or put out feelers to arrange some shadowing or ask what else you could be doing? As the old saying goes - if you don't ask you don't get...

MateyBubbleBathlover · 08/11/2023 13:51

@AwfulFirstWeek do you have a Buddy?

Baffledandalarmed · 08/11/2023 13:53

Havnt been given any tasks to do or asked to shadow anyone.

YABVU for that bit alone!

I'm surprised you got the job - did you show this lack of initiative in the interview? Speak to your LM. Ask for work to do. You've essentially spent three days doing sod all. Stop complaining and take action.

Tawlk · 08/11/2023 13:53

Sounds a bit rubbish to be honest, we would always plan out our new starters first weeks. Sometimes they would be completing online onboarding tasks but most of the time would be spent with different individuals of the team shadowing / training etc. I won’t personally be with them everyday for the first week or two but I will assign different team members to help with on boarding. It helps to get to know everyone on the team individually too. I would always have someone or personally meet them on their first day in the office.

Shefliesonherownwings · 08/11/2023 13:58

It’s not even the end of your first week
so I think you’re jumping the gun a bit here. In my experience this is a normal first week, especially if it’s the public sector. Reading intranet docs and online training will probably take up the first two weeks minimum to be honest.

Yes it’s a bit rubbish that your manager isn’t there as planned and they haven’t organised anyone else in management for you to shadow. However you haven’t said what the plan is for tomorrow yet so they may be in tomorrow to get you properly started on things. Call/email your manager and find out what the plan is for tomorrow and Friday and suggest that if they can’t be in with you that you work from home again. You need to give this a bit more time before you start calling it awful!