Another work day with nothing to do

[wastedofworld]

I bloody hate my job. Had 20 mins of work yesterday and 10 mins today. I'm paid for 7.5 hours a day. This is not unusual. There are busy periods but I have had very little to do for months now. I'm sick of emailing managers and colleagues to ask if there is anything they need me to do as I have capacity.

We never went back to the office, so it does mean I can get stuff done at home, but having so little to do is, well, soul and confidence destroying.

I'm looking for other jobs, in fact that is how I spent yesterday and today, but I'm painfully aware I have nothing to sell from my current job to a prospective employer.

Just ranting really.

You have my sympathies - my second job was like this; it was a new role and one week a month I had a few hours' work and the rest of my time I was twiddling my thumbs. It was OK for the first few months as I was relieved about having escaped a bullying boss in my first job, but once that faded I was grubbing around for things to do and it was actually quite stressful.

I was too young and unassertive to tell them when I left that the role couldn't support a full time person - I really should have!

I've got one of these jobs and for all the 'do courses!' or 'do freelance work on the side!' comments its actually really hard to break the ennui. It just seeps into your brain, you start doubting your skills and value and from there its a short trip to depression

This. My confidence is in the ground! I do use the time to get through my own life admin but I don't use the time as well as I could, I guess. Partly cos I am so lonely I spend too long on mumsnet (actually going to cut this out - just came on to see if anyone replied). The loneliness is a killer and really badly effects my mental health and makes everything seem hopeless.

Yes, and to be honest, its not courses I need but actual work experience and achievements that I can sell at an interview.

PP asked re appraisals - don't have them! Nor one to ones.

PP asked re going back to office - I can but no-one else goes in. They all love homeworking.

Anyway, good news! Have been offered two job interviews for next week! So will see how they go. I'm not an ideal fit for either but you never know. And if I still have no work to do, I can spend the rest of the week preparing for my interviews!

Oh my god this, 110% - you totally start doubting your skills and value, no one cares what you do. And actually if you left, no one would miss you.

it’s a horrible horrible feeling and it makes you feel absolutely worthless - especially when you’ve come from a career where you really contributed

Omg!!!! My people, I'm in the same boat. I'm sooooooo done with my job wfh right now. Anything I do try and do gets shut down by my twatty manager. I'm in the middle of retraining in ux design but it's going to take a long time to retrain and I'm desperate to leave my industry. This week has been a right bastard,dreaming of handing my notice in but I have to be patient.

Your tax code will be a good indicator and HMRC will send an updated version to your employer - depends how on the ball payroll are.

Your tax code shows what time you completed work?

Also, to freelance you generally have to market yourself. Big chance your employer would find out.

Your Tax code is determined by your income - increase your income and your tax code may change, which may arouse suspicions.

A competitor may not like that you are currently employed - depending on the job, could be a conflict of interest. I’m sure people do it - we employ contractors but they would have to declare no conflict in their contracts. What about your LinkedIn profile, would you say you didn’t bother updating - there’s a bit of lying and covering up needed.

At the beginning of Lockdown one, this was me, absolutely nothing to do , occasionally got checked on . I’d been in the job five years and really enjoyed it!
But it was soul destroying, no furlough, just find something to do! Right ok!

My family couldn’t understand why I hated getting paid for doing five minutes work a day!

I found another job and left………biggest mistake, I regret it to this day. The new job was dreadful I left after 3 weeks. Had a string of jobs since, can’t settle at any of them.
The grass isn’t greener, I look back and wish I’d been more chilled and stuck it out.

But that could be anything - income from private pensions, income from property, income from a second job. I’d be very surprised if that was ever picked up or questioned.

Do you have a side hustle op? If not, get one!

I could have written this post. 4 months in and haven’t had more than 30 mins worth of work each day. It’s soul destroying 😫

16 months in and soooo bored. However, on the plus side I can get housework things done at home (I’m WFH three days, in the office two days). But I’m always looking at other jobs, and applying for them!

I feel like I have already retired with just odd bits of admin/phone calls …

So interested to know what roles /jobs these are?

Seriously.

I feel exhausted and burnt out so could do with some downtime.