People that have been at workplace longer allowed to do as they please

[CrumbleCustard]

I started a new job 3 months ago. There are 5 of us on our team, all doing exactly the same job, working shifts with either one or two of us on shift at any one time.

Three of us started at around the same time and two have been there several years.

Basically, the ones that have been there for a few years are allowed to do as they please, whilst us newer staff members are expected to do all the work. For example the longer serving staff are allowed to stand around talking for hours and doing things that are nothing to do with work, whilst our manager is determined to keep us 'newer' staff members busy for every second we are there and gives us new work to do constantly. He has been over many a time and asked me to do X, Y or Z whilst I'm already doing work and whilst a longer serving colleague is just chatting or browsing the internet.

The manager used to do the job and work with these colleagues so I think he doesn't want to upset them.

Does anyone else find this is the case in other workplaces? It's quite a cliquey place so I think my manager's manager would just side with him and the longer serving colleagues as he is very friendly with them, too.

How do these managers benefit from having most of their staff doing nothing? Where I work, public sector, they'd be out of the door. We don't have the capacity to carry people no matter how long they've worked here.

You need to refuse to do the extra work and point towards the ones standing gossiping .just say something along the lines of: X Y or Z don't look busy, I'm sure they can manage it

It’s utter shit. Person I took over from comes over to me very loudly when management round ‘ kiss are you still playing candy crush’ I was replying no of course not… I I look them dead in the eye and say I’m on level 212 - then I turn to my OC and carry on with whatever I’m doing.

stupid cow is making herself look stupid

Another thing they consistently get away with is not wearing their work uniform, yet I get told things like to tuck the back of my shirt in if it accidentally becomes untucked as they didn't have my skirt size and my skirt is too big. Then the long term employees breeze in wearing what the hell they like!

Interested to know in a public sector role how longer serving staff would be "out the door" when they have their 2 years employment protections. Unlikely.

They probably employed you because the others are awful but unsackable (and I'd also like to know how public sector sacks anyone as that's not my experience either)

So now they want to build a better team with a majority of good employees.

Or, maybe they are training you up so they can then get rid of the other 2?

They will never get rid of the other two: management think they are amazing

It is utter shit and won’t change. You either suck it up and literally do the job for the money or leave for something else (I did the latter once I had done enough of the former).