Am I about to be fired? Worrying!

[User201920]

Posting here for traffic and NC for privacy.

I work for a large company but my department is very quiet. It sometimes gets busier and then quiet again. I can go for 70% of a day without doing a thing sometimes. I haven’t been there that long, only 6 months, so I don’t want to leave yet.

I’ve raised it and been told that the job is fine and that work will pick up, I don’t need to worry etc.

But I am worried. I’m paid circa 55k. Can they get rid of me without any notice? Would you trust them that there’s no problem? I know it is probably hard to say without actually working there yourself but I’m just worrying a lot and any advice or experience of this situation would be appreciated.

Obviously it’s hard to say from the outside but I do know that for the first 2 years it’s pretty easy for a company to get rid of you I’m afraid but if you have a notice period they would need to pay you for that
You could ask for this to be moved to Employment for an expert opinion but I’m not sure what else they would be able to tell you

You need to read your contract and maybe the staff handbook to see what your notice period would be if you were let go. However they could pay you in lieu of notice, if that’s in your contract.

No I wouldn’t trust that there is no problem. I’d be looking for work to do and other ways to make myself useful, even if it was doing things that were not my job.

And I’d be keeping an eye on the job market.

Do you like the work and the company ( when you actually have work to do )?

Just make hay while the sun shines.

Use your free time to look for another job, if you really feel like your days are numbered.

Can you request to do extra training, secondment to another department - anything to show that you take initiative. But it does sound very odd - I have never heard of companies paying that level of money for staff to do nothing.

Yes I’ve raised and said I’m willing to work in different department, offered to travel etc. I’ve got to the point now where I can’t be bothered to keep bringing it up because each time I’m just re assured that there is no issue. There are times when I have been busy but I would say that’s about 50% of the overal time I have been there. Maybe they just wait for the next busy bit? Either way although I like the company this isn’t what I want to feel like all of the time so will leave if it doesn’t pick up. Just don’t want to leave after 6 months! My notice is 10 weeks...

I don't understand how you're being paid 55k to do nothing 70% of the time. It sounds like you're supposed to have responsibilities of staff, department, or something.
Can you not use the time to develop processes, systems, look into things? Idk, anything?
I can't believe that there's nothing you can do!

Look for another job while you’re earning a good salary. It’s fairly standard nowadays to only stay with employers for up to 2 years.

What's your job entail? Sounds mad to be paid for doing nothing. The days must really drag for you

It’s rubbish!! There is stuff to do but just doesn’t fill the day usually. My last job was horribly busy so maybe I have a strange view of being busy. It does seem odd though!

I really don’t want to leave until I’ve done a good year or so. It looks bad doesn’t it?!

And yes I am doing all sorts of things I can find to try and keep busy!