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Original poster

Have you ever coasted and gotten away with it?

110 replies

foreverhidden · 07/07/2024 11:53

I'm curious to know if coasters are as obvious as we think, or if anyone out there has been a closet coaster and actually gotten away with it.

Ie have you coasted but still managed to gain good performance reviews and not been pulled up on it. If so, how long for.

If you've been caught, how long did you coast for? What was the process once you were caught.

I've seen so many people in my company who I knew coasted, get caught up with eventually. Wondering if there are some getting away with it all the same.

OP posts:

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 07/07/2024 21:13

What's the alternative to 'gotten' in my thread title?

'Got'. Most people who speak British English do not use 'gotten'.

marshmallowfinder · 07/07/2024 21:13

foreverhidden · 07/07/2024 21:05

What's the alternative to 'gotten' in my thread title?

Got.

MsCactus · 07/07/2024 21:23

foreverhidden · 07/07/2024 18:50

Really interesting. What you're describing is the likability factor. Indeed, I've known people who work themselves into the ground, however they are come across as desperate people pleasers, annoying, frazzled and probably just don't have that something about them.

I'd say people who coast and are likeable get away with it more. Although I knew one coaster who drove me mad, got promoted to above me 3 years before I did and boasted how much more money she got at her level. I knew she did no work because if a doc was sent around same day for a meeting, she would have time to go in there, read it, make comments and turn up to the meeting prepared. Vs me at the time who worked so hard and turned up to the meeting sometimes having not had a minute to check my emails, let alone that. She was vocal in meetings, experienced and level headed but really no one liked her and everyone knew she was coasting in the end so that was the end of that. I wonder if she had been likeable if she would have been pushed out.

Show quote history

Yes - that definitely describes the second guy. Working so hard he was always constantly frazzled.

Tbh the people who worked for the "coaster" didn't like him as he was always AWOL/unavailable and planning his holidays/taking personal calls when you asked him to do anything. But it's obviously done him no harm. I'm actually quite impressed - and watching them both definitely showed me that you're probably not going to be rewarded for working yourself to the bone

Nina9870 · 07/07/2024 21:31

I do what I’m paid to do, and don’t do any more.
my labour isn’t free and my workplace isn’t entitled to my free time, I also don’t consider it coasting.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 07/07/2024 21:45

waitingforit · 07/07/2024 12:10

I've been quietly quitting for the past 2 years. I've totally gotten away with it and been very pleased with the amount of extra time I have as a result. I work in a job where a lot of your own time is expected. I still work over my contracted hours but I'm getting there.

I've never heard the expression quietly quitting before, but that totally describes the last year or so for me.

I was doing above and beyond but ended up making myself ill and was off for a few months.

When I came back I did the bare minimum if that.

I was planning to leave after bonus time but they are moving all the jobs to India and making the UK team redundant. Assuming I get another job (🤞🏻) I'm delighted! Get a massive payout.

Psspsspssssss · 07/07/2024 22:06

MsCactus · 07/07/2024 18:33

OP, not sure what industry you're in but I used to work with an incredibly successful coaster.

A promotion came up as the head of a department's deputy. The coaster was happy, chilled, relaxed because he used to sit at work planning his holidays and never working.

Another guy, let's call him 'The striver' worked much harder, but was very stressful to be around as he never stopped.

Both guys were on around 60k.

Long story short, the coaster got the promotion due to his relaxed attitude. Job paid about 80k. When the head of department left the coaster then left for another role - £95k, soon got commended on his attitude at new workplace and went up to £120k. The coaster has now just taken a new role, at a new company, for £200k. I've never known him do a day's work but everyone likes him, he's very relaxed.

What happened to The striver? He burnt out in the first job two years later. Left for a lower role as he couldn't cope. He's now on £50k, so the coaster is earning four times his salary in a few short years.

I'm not really sure what my point is - but watching both of their careers I do find it fascinating. The striver was clearly the better worker.

And it makes me wonder how valuable working hard really is - Vs looking out for yourself & self care etc.

I don't know about this coaster - I've often found that in stories like this, they've always been doing some arse licking behind the scenes and stealing credit.
However, I've also noticed that..Not only is career success about targeting the right work and self promotion (instead of just 'working hard') some people are really good at timing their moves.

They take on a new role from a competent person. Mess it up due to short-termism or maybe just plain incompetence, but somehow still use it as a pivot for their next, bigger role. Either taking credit for the good performance of the team when they just took over (which was thanks to their predecessor), or blaming any issues on external factors.
Often , they're also good at finding a couple of mugs to fool/or conspire with to sing their praises.

OP yes although I have coasted I'm generally a good worker, however I no longer stress the small stuff. As @MsCactus shows people who work the hardest don't necessarily succeed.

I get the lay of the land and act accordingly.

KikiShaLeeBopDeBopBop · 07/07/2024 22:07

I swing between coasting & over-performing in my current role. It's below my pay grade and there are no performance reviews or other usual leadership structures. Yes, I'm now also looking for something else!

SpeedyMrsToad · 08/07/2024 17:59

I have an update if anyone was interested. Today I sacked off some tasks and delegated them back to my manager. Said I will happily do them when pay reflects my job role.

I then spoke to my managers manager who said “Good! You are welcome to do that at any time and I am fighting for your pay review”

He then said I could have the afternoon off to chill 😂 I didn’t take him up on the offer but I did slack off somewhat

Original poster

foreverhidden · 08/07/2024 20:10

@SpeedyMrsToad good for you. Testing them to see if you're valued. The way they might see it now is that they tried their luck, you've called them out on it and as far as you're concerned, they can pay you properly or you will go somewhere that does.

OP posts:

daisychain01 · 09/07/2024 17:53

If I has such disregard and bad feeling for my manager that I have to bounce work back to them, and shame them to their manager for not being paid enough, I'd be out of there like a shot.

There is nothing more soul-destroying and humiliating than working for someone who doesn't respect your contribution and who you don't respect because they're 'trying their luck' and don't pay you what you're worth.

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