To have pretty much automated 90% of my job and pretend I'm very busy?

[IroningBoardAgainstTheWall]

So, I run a database and predecessor didn't seem to actually understand databases and what they can do so was working 50+hrs and not achieving very much. We'll call him Phil.
I took over and was warned how much work Phil did, he was very busy and he was actually in a retainer in case I needed his help or had any queries over certain tasks. I work in education and there's weekly, half termly, termly and annual tasks, quite cyclic and not difficult.

Within a month I'd automated the daily, weekly and monthly reports, added more useful ones and sent them out. During my first academic year, I'd introduced new systems to automate tasks for others, developed new ways of capturing and reporting data, linked systems to the main MIS to automate account creation and syncing etc

So basically I have very little to do anymore. I do ask for stuff to do, but there's nothing much really. I look for stuff to do but again, there's not much.Occasionally I'll get feature requests or specific reports.

But honestly I do about 4-6 hours of work a week...max, and that includes stuff that isn't really my job, like fixing printers and laptops and stuff.

Should I confess?

I'd be worried about someone who understands what you do arriving and realising how automated the processes are and either making you redundant or giving you more responsibility. I'd be using the free time to do training (either inhouse stuff or with line manager sign off) and looking for a better paid role.

You should do what you want.

I've kind of done the same. Worked for a large company that expected things done efficiently, so developed a whole bunch of processes and spreadsheets to make things easier and quicker.

Moved to a smaller company who think I'm a whizz because I do things in half the time, twice as well as my colleagues. I've tried sharing my tricks but others still want to take two weeks to do what I can do in a few days.

Boss thinks I'm uber busy all the time. I'm really busy sometimes, but mostly my days are quite easy.

Hmm. Some jobs just come in fits and starts, though. I've in been one before. The risk is asking for more work, boss does not understand what you do, so you get asked to do the photocopying. Real work emergency pops up. People then get mad that you skip out on the photocopying.

Probably still cheaper than paying a freelancer.

OP, only you in you in your workplace really understands what you do. Therefore, only you can allocate you more tasks that will stretch you and benefit the workplace. Sales / PR or teaching type skills perhaps - it sounds like a lot of this job is actually convincing people to use the tools you create.

Why say anything? You're just better at the job than the last guy. Nice one :)

“AIBU to only work 5-6 hours per week when I’m paid to work full time?”
”Yes”
”Nah, f* that, I just came on here to show off 😂”

If you can hack it, drag it out as long as possible before you get bored to actual death. I had a job for 12 yrs (hilariously, HR), approx 7 of those years I increasingly did absolutely nothing - my boss was a functioning alcoholic and just appreciated me sitting next to her for some reason, so much so that she must've known I was doing FA but couldn't be arsed to do anything about it. I technically wasn't doing anything wrong myself, there just wasn't anything to do really. So I just got really good at speed minimising/maximising excel spreadsheets on my screen and spent the rest of the days reading forums and organising my life as a single mum with a baby. Towards the end (got made redundant thankfully because I was reaching the end of how much boredom I could hack, it was destroying my brain tbh) I reckon I was doing maximum 2hrs work a week, if that. Just drag it out as long as you can mentally hack it - I read SO many stories of how people are treated so terribly in their jobs that I just think if you're safe and happy being safe, don't let the guilt override a good thing - it might never be this good again!

If I were you, I would use the spare time to develop IT package (for want of a better term) for schools based on efficiencies and quality of data outputs.

Test to see competition and demand. I suspect all schools are far behind the curve on this.

I would then license it so that you have a monthly revenue stream and the only think you have to do is integration training at the start and ongoing upkeep.

Multiple income streams:
(1) Purchase of the package (lumpsum upfront)
(2) Initial integration & training (smaller sum sump payment
(3) Licensing agreement (ongoing monthly
(4) Refresher or additional training (sumpsum payment)
(5) Bespoke additions or anything none standard (another income stream)
(6) just covers attendence- 1 fee, covers attendance & timetables - additional etc.

Make sure it cannot be copied and it's extremely difficult to unwind.

If your salary is say 50k for example, that's 500k plus pension over 10 years. Price it so they have payback over 5 and that ongoing fee is less than the salary of a full time person to do.

Rinse, repeat. 5 or 10 schools even would be well worth your while. How many schools nationwide?

Monetise and replicate.

I've made jobs redundant from being efficient. If you are organised you're not constantly fire-fighting. I used to book hotels and flights for work related travel. It's far easier to get these if you book ahead rather than the day before for example! Same with filing. It's easy to file four sheets of paper and far harder if you leave it until there's hundreds!

I was lucky that in my last role I had a gym and pool onsite. I used to go to the gym or swim every day for an hour. I didn't leave the building so it didn't log. When I had external meetings I used to be away hours and no one really noticed.

In one role I used the time to learn a new language...

It can get boring though...

😂😂😂😂

I just think that so many people think I should just crack in, I actually agree with them! Work smart, not hard!

I do like to have a visual studio window open in case of visitors 😁

There’s a Reddit forum for those overemployed (have more than one job). Might be worth a look.

I feel like the carry on people are vastly outnumbering the YABU people tbh.

Absolutely this OP.

Worth researching at least?

Indeed.

Totally agree with the suggestions that you offer consultancy or develop a package. So many school business managers are not data specialists and your predecessor is far from being alone. You could make money and save the public sector a ton of cash too.

For me and my company, my colleagues and I are paid for our outputs. If that means that sometimes we do not need to work our contracted hours to deliver, fine. Contracted hours in some industries are an incredibly outdated concept. In other workplaces they are essential and always will be because of the nature of the work. Forcing people to sit around bored is the worst case for everyone.

People performance manage badly too often, using attendance as a proxy for delivery, because it’s easier to quantify. People who are sitting at their desks an hour longer than they need to every day but delivering badly often get away with it.

In my case, it’s swings and roundabouts, because my job still needs doing and so for the short days I’ll also end up working some long ones, and that’s fine. But I have been bored at work in previous roles and it’s hellish. You’ve basically rendered your full time role obsolete so I would definitely be applying your problem solving brain to what comes next that meets your needs. In the meantime your boss is getting what you’re paid for and you’ve attempted to give yourself more to do and add as much value as you can, so no need to ‘confess’.

I honestly wouldn’t worry, OP. You sound like you’re doing an amazing job for them and they are getting much more bang for their buck with you than they ever have. You’re probably worth more per hour than they are paying you.
Technolology is meant to improve productivity and free up time. I’d be inclined to say occasionally to your boss “I have some extra capacity just now if you’d like me to look and anything else”. Leave it up to them. I’d use the spare time for learning new stuff. Or read In Search Of Idleness by Bertrand Russell.

@IroningBoardAgainstTheWall I'm also in independent sector & cry that there aren't more people like you. Can I ask which MIS you use? If I were you I'd definitely see about consulting as a side line (with School's knowledge), i know i & others would happily pay for your expertise 🤑

This is (put with more more knowledge and business language) the sort of thing I thought you could pitch to your Headteacher. On the basis that they would have the network that would help you sell the product. But if you can do it on your own, you’d make more money.

Same problem with potentially making other people look bad or even be made redundant, though.

If OP could survive on part time pay I'm sure she would already be working part time!

OP, sounds like you are massively more skilled than the previous incumbent and, if you are on the same salary either you are being underpaid for your skill set or previous person was being massively overpaid. Either way, you are fulfilling your job role very comfortably so don't feel guilty about what you do and with the rest of the time.

Didn’t Einstein perfect his general theory of relativity while working for the Swiss patent office? Do that!

iSAMS

Special Relativity. He was famous when he finished the General Theory.

@XWKD ok he only managed to complete special relativity while he was supposed to be doing his full time job? What a slacker!