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Original poster

My manager doesn’t think I’m working my hours

111 replies

Polarbearflavour · 12/04/2019 10:10

So I’ve posted about my job before. Every day I have my resignation form on my desk but I never get around to handing it in such is my loathing for this place.

So I’m a civil servant working on a military base. My line manager is military. I have my own office and very little work to do. When I say very little I mean I have basically nothing to do. There is a military colleague already in the post doing my job. He too does very little and goes home early / to the gym / works from home.

My issue is, my manager (hates confrontation but think he’s a great manager as he’s been on a “Managing Civilians” course) asked me how working my 37.5 hours a week for me was working out and what hours was I working? It came out of the blue and now I’m wondering if he or somebody else is keeping tabs on me.

Now, I leave early on a Friday as military personnel tend to depart at 12 on a Friday. I leave at 1pm on a Friday as I do volunteering in a school for which I am entitled to 6 days a year off as part of civil service employment. I cleared this with my boss before starting. Fine.

There is no clocking in and out. No timesheets. I rarely see my boss or anybody regulary as nobody comes in my office.

Then we have the fact that I was told not to start until 10:30am on a Monday (as that’s when they start) and if I’m still in the office on a Friday when they go at midday I’m told “not to hang around.” So of course, once they leave, I go home. As I am essentially sitting in an empty building.

So no, I’m not actually doing my full hours a week as I’m told to not do them effectively! On a few occasions when the IT / electricity has been down, my colleague has told me to go home and do some studying as we can’t do any work.

And when I’m sitting here like today, sure I’m physically in work but with nothing to do so I’m reading my Kindle. So it’s all a bit pointless really!

My manager obviously doesn’t like me. The rest of our small team are all military and I’m not included in the WhatsApp group or conversation.

Should I just leave, especially now that my manager is questioning what hours I’m working? I have the feeling he just wants to get rid of me as I don’t fit in and don’t really do anything! I hate this place to the point that I cry before, during and after work as I just feel so bored and useless.

OP posts:
Coffeeonthesofa · 12/04/2019 15:21

As your manager has queried the hours you work I would get any agreements in writing. Follow up every conversation with an email “just to clarify as discussed / agreed I will be leaving early on day at time” send email to manager after conversation with senior saying “as instructed by name I will be leaving at time”. Your manager will then have the opportunity to respond if they don’t agree. This way you will have evidence in writing if you are questioned about working hours.
Every Monday email your colleague who is supposed to assign you tasks asking for work, copy in the manager. Do what they ask you to do Whatever It Is. This shows that you are willing to work.
If no work or insufficient work is sent, stay for your agreed working hours and study, pursue a hobby, read a book, online shop, improve your admin skills, work on your CV , do volunteer admin work or use your creative skills to write leaflets for a charity or stuff like that whatever it takes to get through the day. It is a short term thing otherwise I would say look for a new job

daisychain01 · 12/04/2019 15:27

online shop - not on a government mod computer though! And knowing our 'wonderful' Mil sites, computer connectivity speeds are pedestrian.

UnusualBluePenguin · 12/04/2019 15:56

I wouldn't bother to stay. Wait and see if he comes back to you about it. If he does make out you are super efficient and were just about to suggest you go PT.

SoHotADragonRetired · 12/04/2019 16:00

Can't you do a MOOC or something? Teach yourself coding or statistics or creative writing or start a Master's degree online or something if you have no work to do. Upskill yourself for a job you like better.

Oly4 · 12/04/2019 16:01

Count your lucky stars as there is a time limit to this. Enjoy getting paid for doing very little and stick it out. I’d carry on as you are, doesn’t sound like your boss has a problem really

OliviaCat · 12/04/2019 16:03

Sympathy. I also worked in a military run industry and had literally three hours work a month, but had to sit at my desk for 40 hours a week. I tried to motivate myself to do online learning but feeling useless all the time actually really destroys your self-esteem and energy. Good luck.

PuppyMonkey · 12/04/2019 16:10

There was another civil servant posting a while back on here about how she didn’t have any work ever and should she just go home. And lots of other civil servants came on to say it was the same for them. Hmm I find it baffling. Why are these jobs created and advertised (are they advertised or does it not work like that?) when there’s not any need for anyone to do them??Confused

Dyrne · 12/04/2019 16:16

daisychain01 maybe if the MOD stopped spending money on staff that do nothing; they’d be able to afford better IT infrastructure Wink

Dyrne · 12/04/2019 16:16

Anyone else now cruising the Civil Service jobs website? Grin

ineedaholidaynow · 12/04/2019 16:17

Must be so infuriating for other public sector workers who are run off their feet with little or no pay rises, with all this wastage. Are there no audits done/viability checks?

daisychain01 · 12/04/2019 16:19

There was another civil servant posting a while back on here about how she didn’t have any work ever and should she just go home. And lots of other civil servants came on to say it was the same for them.

Not for a moment minimising or being defensive on this, but there are tens of thousands of CS jobs roles, some of which are indeed bazaar and difficult to comprehend. But there is also a massive chunk of workforce who are clear on objectives, and deliver value in CS, they just don't get mentioned on here. It's demoralising and frustrating for those who are recruited and potentially waste a lot of time wondering what they're meant to be doing.

SoHotADragonRetired · 12/04/2019 16:20

Anyone else now cruising the Civil Service jobs website?

Grin I'm half thinking about it. But I already know that a) they can't afford me b) the inefficiency and waste would drive me batshit.

daisychain01 · 12/04/2019 16:23

Dyrne if only it were as simplistic as that, but it unfortunately is not. And we have to remember some of these Mil bases suffer from long term funding cuts over decades, due to that mythical "money tree" not being a reality. Despite it all I love our Mil, they are bloody amazing Grin

daisychain01 · 12/04/2019 16:26

Thing is, people who join from Industry realise it's a totally different culture and accept it warts and all, and can make a big difference.

Work life balance is good and a lot more benign than private sector, but it isn't for everyone,

spaniorita · 12/04/2019 16:48

Damnit I'm civil service and my arse doesn't hit my seat most days. Where did I go wrong?!

Isleepinahedgefund · 12/04/2019 19:27

My last CS post was like this, except my manager didn’t care where I was or what I was doing so long as I got the teeny tiny amount of work I had done. Coincidentally, I also went into school to volunteer and then some, because I worked at home most of the time and he didn’t care where I was.

Looking busy for 37 hours is hard enough without being scrutinised by someone who isn’t actually there. Take in a book, your knitting, whatever - stick it out, they won’t sack you before the end of the year.

Original poster
Polarbearflavour · 12/04/2019 20:23

The MoD also wastes hundreds of millions of pounds on contractors and consultants. My salary really is a drop in the ocean.

If I was given work to do of course I would do it.

OP posts:
OP posts:
PullUpTerrain · 12/04/2019 20:32

I'm also CS and quite often don't have enough to do.
I reckon I have done about 6 hours work this week. It's soul destroying and so very tiring doing nothing.

AventaRizon · 12/04/2019 20:36

I know someone who works in a civilian role on a military base - they have practically no work to do either, and has also been told they can leave early.

Weird - it would drive me round the bend if I had nothing to do at work.

Ragwort · 12/04/2019 20:38

You’ve been posting about this for ages OP, it is truly shocking that there seems to be so many jobs like this in the CS, funded by the tax payer, when other departments, particularly social care, are desperate for funding Confused. No wonder (some) public servants get such a bad name.

Original poster
Polarbearflavour · 12/04/2019 20:45

I tried to hand in my notice already and my manager tried to persuade me to stay.

When I leave they’ll pay several thousands pounds to get a new civilian in post (that’s what recruitment and vetting costs.) It’s all very well to point out on Mumsnet that the money could go on social care but it’s not going to change anything. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I worked in the City...now if you want to discuss wastes of money we should start there! Grin Business class flights, strip clubs on expenses, having team meetings down the pub...

At least I worked in a dynamic environment with people who actually spoke to me in an office built in the last 20 years with no rodents and damp.

OP posts:
Original poster
Polarbearflavour · 12/04/2019 20:47

Husband is currently telling me to go in on Monday and hand my notice in! 😂 Oh I think I should! Really really tempted.

OP posts:
C0untDucku1a · 12/04/2019 20:52

There was a
bRilliant thread last year to soemone sho had handed their notice in to a job that had nothing to do. There was pages of advice on what people
Did to fill their time in boring easy jobs. Online courses. Writing a book. Loads of ideqs.

Newbie1981 · 12/04/2019 20:56

He didn't really say anything bad to you. Could it have just been an innocent question. Not much info given on the discussion to be honest

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