Honestly, do you or have you ever put two fingers up and taken the piss at work where you can? I’m talking….

[Hunejuly]

… things like using sick pay regardless of whether you need it, taking a longer lunch, having a nap if working from home. That sort of thing.

I have lost all faith in huge corporations. We’ve had minimal pay rises while the top cream off loads of profit (and yes I do think it should be shared more and yes I realise I could move but most places are the same). I don’t even feel ashamed about it. I do good work when needed but it’s to get me through. I take what I can get these days.

Yup

I'm on the same page as you op

I'm not adequately compensated, and never have been

I now refuse to go the extra mile for no recognition

Over 400 billion in assets?

Give me a break

No. I’ve left any job I’ve been unhappy at before I’ve had chance to resent the company enough.

@coxesorangepippin so nice to know someone feels the same! I spent so long slogging my guts out with no sick days… and for what. There’s no loyalty these days. So fuck it, I’m having a nice week off in January with a bout of flu 🎉

There's refusing to do extra and be exploited and there's downright lying and fraudulent behaviour.

I'd feel a bit sad in a job I hated that much! Time to move on maybe?

I genuinely love my current company and am well paid for what I do. In the past I haven't been but I've just focused on doing a great job to progress and move up/leverage a better job, regardless of if I thought they were all arseholes 😂

If I were to be staying in the same role for a long time, I think I'd likely burn out like that yes.

This. I could have written this.

No, I work but I've changed jobs very quickly at the first sign of boredom/disengagement.

It probably is a result of being there 8 years. I don’t feel I can leave at the moment as mid divorce so have enough going on!

Did you post the other day about trying "to be made redundant"?

@EnhancedVampireEyeballs 😂 erm.. no! Or are you being sarcastic?

Yes, I've felt that when working for big corporates and you're just a number, battling against a hierarchy of committees.

I work for a small business now, but I have to wear multiple hats and I'm stretched very thin...the owner is a multi millionaire and I rarely get any recognition still! I'm paid approx 10% less than the salaries published for similar broad roles. But...I do enjoy my job (despite the stress), and whilst the owner is never going to shower me with bonuses or pay increases he's a decent person and I know he has my back. I'll see the rewards eventually, when we've grown the company.

I get to work from home full time, and whilst there are many, many opportunities to exploit my autonomy, I don't really have it in me. <polishes halo>

I do sometimes nip to the shops with DH to get away from the laptop for a bit though. 😊

I don't think those are massive two fingers up really.

Never faked a sick day, I have been known to nap when WFH if I'm a bit unwell or have slept really badly as honestly I'll get more work done that way because I'll have more energy after and I'll sleep better that night and not be overtired the next day.

Yes, worked my arse off doing unpaid overtime wfh, well into the night for weeks during covid because it felt like the right thing to do (a helping people kind of role). Received no thanks for it and was turned down for a promotion to a job I was basically doing on a lower wage because manager "didn't think I was ready". It felt like a slap in the face, so yeah, I did take a few more breaks after that. Still got the work I was contracted to do done, but stopped killing myself to do more. It wasn't the right time to move with all the covid lockdowns and having kids constantly sent home for weeks at a time to isolate. Thankfully a new manager came in and saw my potential and I got the promotion as soon as a position came up.

Longer lunch breaks yes. Pulling a sickie never. I did take a couple of naps whilst pregnant but haven’t since. I don’t even think my manager would mind that much as they’ve said in the past they care more about output than hours worked. I’m of the same mindset.

Me too

Got a low paid job p/t as it suits family life. It used to be a lovely place to work but the co. are making loads of changes and are treating us like crap. I’m hanging on in there as hours suit me and I like my colleagues but absolute zero loyalty to co. so;

Not had sick day this year but will take 2 days before new work year starts

Adding on at least 5 mins to breaks

I no longer go the extra mile to plug the gaps of inept manager, staff off sick and general co. Incompetence

Make sure I’ve claimed every single benefit they offer

Leave the office dead on time

I have a to do list of personal stuff I need to do and when I have to leave my desk to go places/toilet I add on a few minutes to get stuff done

Sounds really bad but I’m still doing a more productive job than my colleagues and am viewed as one of the strongest employees. The difference is that they use us, and don’t treat us nicely, but I’m using them back to suit myself so we’re even.

Generally speaking the people at C-suite level in large corporations aren't the type to fake a week off sick. Which may go part of the way towards explaining why they're well paid.

You’re very optimistic. I’m sure the owner doesn’t see his company as a “we” enterprise 😂😂😂

Was as loyal as a dog, worked hard, good pay rises, company were loyal to staff too, no one inc directors took the piss.

Then in 2012, company sold, we were all TUPEd happened 3 more times, no or limited pay rises, directors took all they could, lay offs, i had 25 years continuous service, the last 3 years were spent doing the absolute minimum & yes i did get all new tyres fitted to my company car i intended to buy when i got made redundant but even then the company renegaded on the pay outs, it was a nightmare.

Many companies over the last 10 or 15 years have become appalling employers and staff react to how they are treated, hence UK has stressed workers and poor productivity, which is falling even further.

My DD is NHS, her area are introducing new ways to measure productivity, its causing a lot of friction, she'll leave, finds it very stressful and because of the extra admin, sees less patients, dickheads run our country.

Without blind optimism, all I have is a stressful job with heavy responsibilities for shit money...and the owner knows it!

I forgot my pamper drawer.

A stash of cuticle cream, hand cream and lip moisturiser. When I’m working alone I’ll give myself a lovely hand treatment.

I also use walking around to stretch my muscles and do my facial Pilates

@Elektra1 yes that’s true. But there’s plenty more people doing a great job and being used in the process. My care stalled when I had a baby, because, you know, big corporations don’t really care about women. So yes I agree such people don’t take days off sick but the context is always more nuanced than that.

I went back to work after mat leave to find that all the good bits of my job had been taken away by my (male) boss, for whom I'd worked for a decade and who regularly told me I was the best person he'd ever had working for him. So I looked around for another job and now I'm the boss.

Maybe try that instead?

Most of my friends in corporate jobs take liberties while wfh. One has been banking overtime and is now off until the new year despite having used all her normal holiday entitlement. But I'm pretty sure she could've done most of the 'extra' work without working late if she didn't faff around in the day.

I don't miss office work but I do miss some of the benefits. With construction/site work you can't put the washing on and watch a cheeky episode of something etc. You're on a muddy site for 10+ hours a day.

@Elektra1 its very sad that you have to leave like that. Though obviously I don’t mean to put down or minimise your current position.

Not everyone can just leave in the way you were able to.