I've stumbled into a 'unicorn' job - now help me make sense of it!

[Whataweirdsituation]

Hi all,

NC for this one! Bit of a scrambled thought process here so bear with me!

Also to get it out of the way, yes, this definitely includes a bit of a #stealthbrag - though not sure it counts if it is disclosed?

I'm a single mum to a primary aged DS. For the first few years of his life, I was working a really intense upper-management role in logisitics. Crazy hours, never really 'switched off', was constantly thinking about work whilst at work but also at home/weekends/annual leave. I was exhausted and very burnt out!

I angled for, and got, a Senior Manager level office job in a totally different industry around 4 months ago. 4 days a week in office, 1 day WFH. Great company to work for, 9-5 with no expectation to pick up anything out of hours, really supportive management who actively promotes taking time out for school events/WFH during school holidays/leaving early if having a rough day - all of which is totally unknown to me! Good pay, AMAZING perks, genuinely nice people....

My 'problem' is this. I like my role and what I'm doing (think a people/HR related role) - however my actual role takes approximately 5% of my work day. Part of this is down to the fact I work very efficiently and I have a large knowledge pool to draw from, but part of it must be down to the fact there's just not enough work. I have brought this up several times with my manager, who says she'll pass things along as they come up. I've been put on several other global projects not strictly in my remit and LOVE it, however those also do not take up a huge chunk of my time and my manager is reluctant to let me take on more than a few at a time as they are not within my scope. At first I put loads of time into planning for the future/creating detailed spreadsheets of improvements that could be made etc. Turns out that creates even less work for me now ;) According to my manager its been 'a hectic time to start' and will 'slow down soon' - so I don't think we're waiting on a load of extra work or a busy period, but more the opposite.

Part of the issue comes with the fact my predeccesor really struggled with the role and seemed to be busy all the time (??) - now I've come in and implemented a lot of improvements (tbh, very easy wins that look good as numbers) it seems to everyone I am just incredibly good at the job - I've been rated 'exceeding expectations' on my reviews so far. I will also point out I am very efficient at responding to all queries, go above and beyond to help where I can (obviously because I have the time and WANT to be busy!) and this has also been flagged as a positive to my boss multiple times. I don't think there is anything else I can do to increase my workload.

There's not really scope to progress here - I like the work I have to do and don't want to go for a different role at this company. That being said, I also don't want to leave - at least not for a couple of years - because I do genuinely appriciate the great work/life balance I have, and because they will support me complete a postgrad qualification which will help me reach the next stage of my career.

So I'm left trying to fill my days in the office 😂As you can imagine, I am very up to date with life admin, podcasts, my fave Netflix shows and every thread ever posted on Mumsnet. I've also joined a gym near the office, and run all my errands during the day. I've signed up to complete my CIPD L7 (Masters degree level) from September, which the company will pay for and support me with time to study, however this is a suggested 15h a week which will help but still not completely fill up my days.

I'm considering adding in a side hustle - not sure what it would be - something using my HR or events management experience. I've checked my contract and this is allowed (into commute times or the evenings, not techinally during work hours obviously. Though other members of my team openly talk about their additional jobs consulting etc). The money isn't strictly speaking necessary but would be nice, especially as bar cost of living increases, my salary will not go up for a few years.

I feel like I've spent so long starved for time, and now suddenly I have LOADS. Too much, because I'm not sure its great for my mental health to have so much time spent doing nothing.

So my AIBU is this:

YABU - enjoy the little work you have to do, don't add in anything else. (+ for suggestions of how to create more work for myself or who else to talk to)

YANBU - definitely try and fill your days with more, here are some suggestions of what I would do with this extra time!

Shhh don’t tell anyone but my job is similar too, I felt guilty for a very long time but I recently read a thread on here that said something about how the higher you go the more the company is paying for your experience and knowledge and I feel that, I am well respected in the wider sector so that’s what I tell myself. I’ve increased my days at home and now I take time for myself on those days, I’m still contactable and respond to emails but I do my housework and I soak in the bath with a book, I also exercise and walk my dogs! It’s ok to do that as long as they’re happy and you’re getting everything done! You just need to slow down a bit and enjoy the change

Gosh, unbelievable that people have such easy jobs. Every single minute of my working hour is full of work in a senior management role. Though I work in IT and digital. Can you let me know where can I find a similar job to yours?

I read this once when I was feeling like you are 😅 The forgotten employee.

sites.google.com/site/forgottenemployee/

Is there a staff volunteering programme you can get involved in?

Or set it up if you don't have one already. Team days out, private volunteering 6-12 days a year, charity worker/teenage mentoring programmes. Do offer the organisations/charities you work with money as well as your time. I'm saying this as an ex-CSR team day organiser, permanently frustrated at companies' unwillingness to offer money for charity staff time.

Build employee communities, such as neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, women's health, men's health etc etc. will put all your networking skills to good use and create an inclusive culture. Employees do tend to volunteer to be part of these.

Just find a firm that haven’t identified that their in-house FT role could be outsourced for less.

Enjoy it and remember every day when you wake up thinking you need more work be careful what you wish for.

Sorry, but the gloating tone of this post struck me as terribly insensitive when so many people are suffering so horribly financially

Sorry as I am for your neighbour, MN is not a low income forum, anyone with any issue is entitled to post and ask for advice regardless of their financial situation.

OP has clearly been working hard for many years as a SM, if she’s caught a break for the time being, do you really begrudge that?

I had this in my last role and over time it really impacted my mental health. I actually started to get stressed out from not having enough to do. I have a busy role again now and am so much happier. It sounds really good in theory to have a load of free time but not always as good as you’d think.

@Charlize43

None of that is the OPs fault and it’s incredibly rude to try to make others feel guilty for having some success and joy in their life and telling others about it. Denigrating her isn’t going to change your situation (or your neighbour’s). It’s not a race to the bottom.

I had a think. Definitely do your side hustle job. Is your probation period passed yet?

If your work offer more training or courses do them, anything.

It may also be the fact that they’re waiting for you to settle into the job as 4 months isn’t that long to be there.

Are there suggestions for new processes which could be implemented to make your work better/easier?

In the past people I once who haven’t had much to do, temps I employed when on annual leave, one woman completely sorted out our awful system and hard to put files into too. She did this by diverting or ensuring our colleague was on reception (which she was supposed to be covering) but she was so proactive and positive that my boss was impressed and so was my colleague who worked with her. In fact after she worked for us we employed here when I was back from holiday as we wanted to clear an office which was a dumping ground for files and we needed her help to set up an offsite archive filing system.

Learn another language online

Stay, enjoy the space to strategise. Try to pick up more work in time in different areas. I had a very similar experience going from a very fast paced job to one where things moved at a glacial pace and most of my colleagues spent their time having tea and chatting. That wasn't for me and similar to you my manager didnt want me taking on too much work from elsewhere, so I used my spare time to get to know the business in detail. That made me very good at my job and also well positioned for future roles. I also worked out what I could do to 'raise my profile' with the most senior people and supported with that eg project work supporting board meetings. It was very useful. Now I'm in a really busy job again and I love it, but I do miss the strategic brain space.

Use your spare bandwidth to volunteer for a charity.

Also non-exec director positions for other companies/government/NGOs could be a good way to earn a bit of extra money and wider experience plus fill some time.

I have the sane set up! Keep wondering what the heck everyone else does all day.

I'm in this position as well - have been for the last year - and ironically it's a promotion from my old role where I barely had a minute. I do struggle with it although I've realised that I am very efficient and can do tasks much quicker than other people so genuinely seem to be able to complete in a couple of hours what some might achieve in a day.

I need to move on though as it's making me really anxious. Out of the frying pan into the fire perhaps but I also don't want to go stale. I feel like I need to keep challenging myself.

@Whataweirdsituation If you're in an HR role, I would echo what some PP have said and build communities. If you can identify the star performers, you will have a huge start at another organisation should your lack of work-hours become apparent.
It may be worth reflecting on your previous job and whether you were making the best decisions possible or firefighting.
Although he's been dead a long time now, Sir John Harvey-Jones became Chairman of The Economist (working one day a week), taking over from Evelyn de Rothschild who was tired of working six days a week, so it is possible to do a good job in far fewer hours than a predecessor.

No need for a side hustle. It sounds like the perfect environment for setting and controlling the course of your career progression and potential. If you're a senior manager in HR now, why not implement things that position you as a Chief People Officer?

Others have already mentioned policy and process reviews, employee networks, etc.

In your position I'd be looking at the broader people agenda - engagement, talent management/planning, promotions process, annual salary reviews, wellbeing and support, reward and recognition, employer value proposition, talent attraction, onboarding and offboarding, external awards and benchmarking.

OP, get your employer to pay for you to join Daniel Barnett’s HR Inner Circle - it will help with your job and studies but you can also kill a lot of time helping other HR type people with their job queries and possibly network for when you are ready to move on. If you are not already signed up to Daniel’s emails, you should do as he is very good at updating on new case law and upcoming changes in employment law.

I am not related to or work with or for Daniel Barnett!

@Subsidence this is hilarious! I wonder where he is now...!

Congrats sounds amazing

Help others - whichever way feels right. cough msg me cough ;)

Are there any qualifications that you could add to your cv? If there are any that would compliment your role/industry then your employer might put you through the qualifications also.