To ask how much work you actually and honestly do if you’re highly paid? I am worrying!

[workworkbaby]

I’m on 58k. I know it’s not huuuge money, but it’s decent. Honestly, I do very little. I worry all the time about job security and have mentioned to managers I have capacity to do more etc. Sometimes more will land and other times not. As I work largely from home I often find myself just hanging around. I wonder if this is common? I have a toddler in nursery so I can collect them early sometimes which I love so I’m not complaining but I do worry… anyone else?

I'm the same! 65k and always wondering why I'm not so busy, I do have busy spells but a lot of the time I don't have that much to do and wonder how but reading some of these responses is reassuring as I am obviously paid well for my level of experience and length of time doing this job means it's second nature and I can do things quickly. 5 years ago I was working non stop and paid less than half what I am now but I guess that's the experience reflection that I have now.

Another teacher wanting to know what you all do!

This is a really good summary. Sometimes I have very very little to do. Other days I am flat out constantly fire fighting. Above a certain level you are paid for what you know and your ability to fix things, rather than to sit there 9-5 doing operational stuff.

Also having a good team who know their stuff is critical, if you can't trust them to do their jobs well and to escalate when things need escalating, then it all will go wrong very quickly, so recruitment is key.

I currently earn ~60k. Some days, I’m busy-ish and have to juggle several projects; other days, I have time to nap, read, and clean the house. I have approximately 4 years of relevant experience plus a PhD, and I have previously worked in a different industry (edited to add it was agency consulting for pharma companies), where I was worked to the bone. For those curious, I’m now a medical (regulatory) writer for a pharmaceutical company

£50k here, public sector.

Some days I also do very little. Have asked for more work multiple times. Colleagues constantly talking about how stressed and busy they are (same or similar role). Have concluded either:

• I am hyper efficient
• They are hyper inefficient
• People have different thresholds for what constitutes busy

Honestly talking to friends I don’t think this is that uncommon. I had a friend who worked as an engineer for a luxury car company for a year on £65k and essentially did nothing but DIY the whole time because despite repeatedly asking for more work it never materialised.

£75k and work my 35 hours no more. But I’ve moved to a team that’s not deadline based and more long term project based. I’ve been in teams which are more deadline based and definitely did longer hours. I’d actually like to go back to those teams as I find my current role doesn’t keep me on my toes enough and I get a bit complacent.

I'm a project manager in a specific field. Earn just under 50k. I can be really busy for 2 days then nothing, I do specific tasks that others in my organisation aren't qualified in and they are useless at this aspect. I line manage one person who is an introvert and just gets on with things. I don't feel it's my problem and don't feel any guilt when I'm quiet because my appraisals are always really good and I asked for extra work at the start (coming up to 4 years working there now) so they put me on 3 different work streams (I've basically got two jobs now) and I still get work done swiftly. DH jokes that Friday is my day off because basically on a Friday the most I do is answer a few emails.

I've got my eye on moving area in 6 years when I'll be 50 and my youngest DC goes to uni so I'm happy to coast until then tbh.

£77k in HR. Some days really busy, some days don’t do much at all.

Work my arse off for minimum wage.

What industry are you in?

Where are these jobs!!! What sectors are you working in? Sounds like a dream.
I am a nurse, work 12 hour shifts - which, in real terms is 14 actual hours of work. No proper protected break - grabbing a sandwich in a windowless staff room whilst catching up on paperwork. Not enough time in the 30 min window to go anywhere for food. Checking emails and doing mandatory learning in my own time as not enough time in the day. I’m in a senior position - in-charge of the unit. Acute level care delivery and staff management responsibilities. Masters degree educated. Get paid £37k.

I find this really unfair. Especially those in public or charity sector. I would feel guilty. Maybe just jealous.
Please share what these jobs are where people don’t get given enough to do. I’m sure I could find something to occupy myself!

To be honest, I think you need to go into the office to network and get ideas to expand your role. When I WFH I get cut off - it's by interacting with colleagues and clients that I get the best ideas for projects or plans.

What do you do?

Lots of jobs pay for your expertise and availability, not how much you do per hour.

DH is on £85k and says he's paid for what he knows, not what he does. He gets busy if a major incident happens, he's paid to handle that kind of stress. Other days he sits playing PlayStation all day.

Meanwhile I earn £35k working for a Housing Association and am constantly chasing my ass trying to keep ahead of my workload.

I’m paid six figures. I’m paid for my expertise and experience and, as others have said, for dealing with emergencies and risk. I work 9-5 and it’s not that hard but I always deliver what I’m asked to and often more, that’s what I’m paid for.

My dh earns not far off £1m but seems to do whatever he likes.. mixes business with pleasure and lives his life. His office can be in London, the car, in the bath.. but he's self employed with sky high expenses as he's a big spender.. but not reckless (I hope).

If I was full time I'd be on about 50k and I'd be slogging my guts out after work and weekends. That's why I'm part time!!

Can you say what type of job it is op?

If you’re not doing timesheets for clients you’re probably more ok

I 'do' very little but am an expert in my role and the experience and knowledge is my USP.

Similar and to be honest, I don’t feel anything like as busy as I did when I was a fresh graduate! Our workload tends to go in peaks and troughs but I pretty much work my contracted hours and that’s it (apart from if I’m travelling on business, we don’t get recompensed for that)

@TokyoSushi what do you do? I'm another teacher happy to retrain and starting at 22 with that fast progression would be fantastic.

It does seem that these are salaries £50k + that pay this. I am more than happy to move into a different career if this is where it leads. But how?

(This thread comes up quite regularly - presumably bored people working from home)

I don’t have this problem as my work days are always filled but can understand your concern. If you’re telling them
you have capacity to do more but they don’t send anything your way I’m not sure what you can do. Have you considered filling your time with making money from self employment or even doing some CPD courses so you are more employable should you lose job?

I'm an additional rate taxpayer, and my role is not really "to do" but to make sure things "get done". I run a team of 30, most of whom I have recruited. Work is like one big problem solving exercise for me, so it's my job to think about how best to do things, and get my team to implement them.

Occasionally things can go really wrong, like when a key staff member went off sick unexpectedly, and I had to drop down to rescue and perform the critical activity, otherwise nobody in the 500 strong company would have been paid.

That's what my salary really pays for; financial risk management and expertise, although that's not my job title.