Worried that if i complain, I will also get into trouble

[BoiledPotato]

In short, manager is out of order on many issues including not stopping bullying. He doesnt allocate much work for me to do but is quite happy to tell me that i should do something. I end up spending a lot of time on email and internet to alleviate boredom (which is against company policy - i know i shouldnt have done it! :-( ). But manager does know about my time on there. Last week however, he decided to tell me that i should have been doing work and not on the internet - except he hasnt allocated me any work! I am at my wits end. If i complain to HR that my manager has been out of order (on bullying matters and non-allocation of work) then i could now get into trouble for my time on email/net.

The thing is - i WANT to work rather than spend all my bored time on the email/net.

That is what I am worried about. I wish i had been wiser about it and not gone on there despite the boredom, because now i can't even make a complaint over some serious matters of bullying as it will look like i just spend all my time on the net/email. Should I just contact HR and ask them for the policy and confess to spending so much time on there and say i will not do it again? Or is that just stupid?

Basically, I cant stay quiet anymore. i have had enough of the horrible atmosphere of bullying and poor management. But my own stupidity has not helped has it! :(

I would ask for the internet/email policy - maybe try one of your co-workers first before going to HR if its a small firm.

I would schedule an appointment with your manager and actively request for more work and say that you have capacity. He should then be able to advise you what you should be doing - if there is no work at this point in time perhaps there is online training you could be doing ?

I wouldn't labour the point about being on the internet - he knows that already but I would make concerted and visible efforts to get some work to fill your days.

Oh and don't say I told you this but best thing to spend your time on if you have no work is to work out your personal finances on excel - no one ever questions spreadsheets.

I was in this position (although no-one questioned my use of the internet, so I decided the most productive thing was fill in applications for different jobs). I nearly went crackers from trying to look busy 10am-6pm 5 days a week with about 2 days' worth of work to do.

The boss was both a bully and didn't like giving work to other people, so you twiddled your thumbs for ages and then did a little bit of work, which she would immediately cover in the computer equivalent of red pen.

I ended up leaving after 3 months. Bizarrely, she then handed in her notice saying she was really unhappy and overworked and went off to work with underprivileged children in a developing country!

Never underestimate the personal issues of people who behave like this.

P.S. I agree about the spreadsheets.