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.

In my old job I didn’t really have any chances to scive off, but I did take a fake sick day, just the once! Still wasn’t enough. So I left.

I wasn't saying people shouldn't do their job. I was specifically responding to the idea it's easy to change jobs. Everyone's circumstances are different.

We couldn't have one of us travel hours away for a job as DS has violent meltdowns. I also couldn't cope with a very early start as DS often wakes in the night and I'll be in with him for up to 2 and a half hours, most nights I get less than five hours sleep, it's not uncommon for it to be two-three hours. The only reason I've kept my job is that they are incredibly flexible and I get the work done, even if my working hours are haphazard. I work from home, when I finish work I sort out DS so DH can get some work done (he also WFH). Everything is organised around DS needs and what works to keep him on an even keel as much as possible and keep his anxiety at a level where he can attend school as much as possible (he pretty much didn't go for a year due to EBSA). His emotional regulation is improving, thankfully, but not perfect - we've had two minor meltdowns in the last week.

What we want is not to be injured and end up in A&E (which I have, three times) or have a child wanting to kill themselves, so that's what we're making work.

Over the last year the team has dropped from 7 people and 1 part time to 6 people doing the work but the quantity of work has not dropped off. We also have been given tiny pay rises nowhere near the rate of inflation despite profits going up.

I have eased right off and no longer go above and beyond, I only end up getting more work sent over by the boss from slower performing team members. I now do a little bit more than the bare minimum but not much. I never take pretend sickies though.

There is a good cartoon meme that I feel is appropriate to me

'I'll just lower the quality of my work until my pay feels fair'

Well, working hard has been decentivised for high earners for a long time and it’s getting worse not better. Assuming everyone feels the same. Fair enough. Our friends are people across an array of professions, the one common denominator is no one can be fucking arsed with it anymore. Lots are looking at international moves…

@e

@EilonwyWithRedGoldHair that sounds incredibly hard. One of my children has very poor mental health as well and once tried to take their own life, so I know how tough it is to deal with that. You're only ever as happy as your unhappiest child.

I still think it a good idea to work hard, especially for those who have additional challenges at home which may require the ability to pay for extra help

Nah, mostly been freelance and always in a very competitive industry. A sad lack of sick pay or naps, good parties and travel though.

I teach in a send school that is now over subscribed and I'm reading this thread thinking "how the other half lives...."

I do take the piss at times but I also go above and beyond at other times so I feel it levels out as being a fairly productive employee

Can't say I've ever had a nap at the operating table ! 😀

Yes I have OP but when I did relationships had already badly soured and I wasn’t in a good place

No. There aren't really many ways I could take the piss in my job (teaching) which wouldn't come back to bite me or make my job harder in the end tbh. No wfh. Taking time off just means lots to catch up on once you get back. I only ever take half my lunch hour because I have too much to do. And everyone works far, far more hours than they are actually contracted to work. The goodwill is definitely evaporating though, and people are much less inclined to do anything extra or non-compulsory.

I wfh so I used to work when I was “off colour” but then I make mistakes so end up getting hauled over the coals so I go sick when I need to.

it it’s busy, I’m glued to my desk but if it’s not then I’ll take some time to fold some laundry etc. I’m willing to go the extra mile when needed and I’ll take the flexibility the other way when I need it.

I took an hour instead of 30 minutes for lunch yesterday to meet a friend… however, I’ve had days with no lunch and evenings I’ve stayed on a bit so I don’t think it’s taking the piss, just balancing my hours. I’d let my team do the same.

I don't have an office job so can't nap because I can't work from home and I can't take an extra long lunch hour.

I wouldn't do it anyway but can see the temptation if you work for a company that makes loads of money and you're treated badly.

I've taken the piss in work as well as outside of it.

Booked meeting rooms and done job interviews for other places on work time and in the office.

Hooked up with a guy in the office.

Got drunk in the office.

Slept in the office.

Done side hustle work in the office in my work time.

I rarely manage lunch let alone any other luxuries!

I delivered a major project for one company. Think, PM of a government contract for one of the four nations. Worked tonnes of overtime, was super adaptable. Kept the entire delivery budget to 27% of the contract cost, including my salary.

Only to watch the business managers piss what I made up the wall. They could have given me a justified salary hike and hired me a project assistant, but no, they made an obscene profit and I was left drained.

So I took my money back in time. Told them I was working on a few projects which would only take me a few days. Instead spent hours on my hobby at my desk.

Fuck em. They deserved all that and more.