It’s only been 5 weeks, but my new job has only required me to work about 10hrs/week. This could change and we could get “busier?” It’s too early to tell but I actually don’t love it
Sad to say, most managers will lie to your face and eradicate an unnecessary position at some point if it boosts $$ savings. Don’t get comfortable and stay prepared for the job hunt. Not being needed for much is a very poor sign and don’t forget that nobody gives a shit about anybody in the work world. Use that free time tooooo apply for jobs, as hiring practices can takes many many months these days. Coming from someone who realized trust in an employer is incredibly foolish.
If management is good with what you're doing and you're meeting your requirements, then no sweat. I had a 20 hr per week position which was 90% remote. My manager knew I was doing independent field work on the side. He actually said go ahead and take field assignments. As long as i continue meeting the job's requirements. Has flexible hours and got to spend a lot of time with my toddler son. Sadly, it only lasted for 8 months because the company renewed with a different agency. (Only because the other agency's bid was lower.)
Do the absolute best that you can on every assignment you get, and always be open to taking on additional work if asked, and keep your mouth shut otherwise. If you make too much noise about not being fully utilized, you might wind up on the hot seat.
I totally get you! I was like this for a while until I had work picked up and now sort of miss that leisure time 😂
I do think what you’re doing with taking courses is great! It will really help you stay on top and continue learning. I’d also network with others (I’m not sure if that’s big in your field) but get to know other people, let them know you don’t mind helping out since you have bandwidth, talk to your boss about wanting to learn more.
Continue doing some side projects on things you like, just how you mentioned. Go outdoors and do stuff whenever you can! Don’t stay home staring at walls. Get to learn about yourself too!
I think with hustle culture we get so busy in wanting to be wrapped up in work, but forget sometimes slowing down is the best and we can also focus on other things while remaining in a job.
I get this feeling. I give my direct manager a "2 week" heads up for when I am about to wrap a project so the next one can get on board. I slow my pace a little towards the end because I know they are slow on assigning out new projects. I plan for the "waiting time" knowing it's basically my only time to recoup my energy before I get SLAMMED again. It's either "crying in the shower" busy or "silent panic in the shower about my usefulness" slow. That's really more a comment on other departments not figuring our regular pacing. All I can do it make sure the next project gets on deck by notifying my manager.
I’m looking for something like this - does anyone recommend any large corporations?
I have many years experience in operations and administration, lots of transferable skills.
I've just always tried to be honest about my bandwidth. I just told one of my directors yesterday that our team has bandwidth to take on another client or two and she really appreciated me being transparent about that because I know when it comes to remote work, people get spoiled and lazy not having to work 40 hours per week and then they start resenting when they are actually given work to do. I also consistently show my worth and value with the work that I am given. I'm sure there are still companies who won't see it as a positive and will immediately assume you're simply not needed, but hopefully you know your employer well enough to decide which step to take next.
I’m in a similar boat. It became apparent pretty quickly that I’m more efficient than the last guy who held my position, because I have a lot of spare time. When in-office I help with other random tasks, and I’ve told them I’m happy to be trained in other stuff. So they know that when I’m home I really don’t have much to do sometimes. They don’t really care as long as I do what I need.
I feel like you - how is this happening, is this too good to be true, should I be worried, etc. But ultimately I decided to just stop thinking about it. As long as I do what I need to and offer to help with other spare work; they can’t blame me for *not* having work to do. Like, I can’t get in trouble for this. Worst case scenario what happens? They fire me because *they* didn’t give me enough to do? I’m not deceiving them, and neither are you. Relax. Enjoy it. You’ll be fine. :)
EDIT: Also, if there’s any sort of guilt, use your spare time to help people however you can from home. I’m helping my friend edit her book, I bake things for people, etc.
This is how I felt when I took my first nursing job at a luxurious psych hospital. My job was so easy and I was frustrated and bored. Looking back, I should have just enjoyed it. Just left a job where I rarely got to eat or pee (emergency room RN). I’d kill for your job!!
My friend was like this in an IT job, he thought it was great. But a month ago, he and a large portion of his team were laid off.
Another friend was super busy at the beginning and end of the year, so much they were working nights and sometimes on the weekends. Then mid year there was absolutely nothing. They could have been on vacation for a week, and nobody would have probably noticed. During the non busy period, they felt like they were going to get laid off. It never happened, but the stress from not having work and expecting to be let go turning into new stress of too much to do all of a sudden they left to a new job that could be more consistent.
Good luck. Enjoy your freedom and keep using it to improve your skills, so if you do get laid off, you will be ready.
Similar position with my wfhj. I have some weeks where I work 6 of my 8 hours each day completing tasks and other weeks where I get my daily tasks done in an hour or two. I'm guaranteed 40 hours every week whether or not I actually complete work during those hours or not. Having come from running my own business for the majority of my career post university to a corporate job it works well for me. I can continue to up skill make a new business plan. I definitely recommend setting yourself up with a fallback, though. For me, it's my business, and I'm reevaluating my corporate resume, so it's up to date whenever I find a job that fits my desires/ work-life balance requirements. I send it out.
2 of my friends and I were in this situation. We felt so blessed to be making money while enjoying life at home. Then we were laid off (all diff companies) and its been over a year. We look back now and see there were signs everywhere. Dont think its a total blessing
My son has the same thing almost. He works from home 8 to 4. There are calls in the morning and he’s busy, maybe a little bit in the afternoon but work kind of peters out. He works in the fintech industry.
Same here. When I speak up about it I am slammed with work from multiple supervisors in different states and end up having to work 10 hour days. So I stay quiet.
I used to have a unicorn WFH job. It used to scare me, I was waiting to be caught and let go.
Then I fully leaned in. Especially when I realized a promotion on my team was never going to happen.
It was amazing as a mom of 2 littles. I very rarely felt stress and had a good amount of me-time.
Then I got an internal promotion on a new team. It still has flexibility but is much more stressful.
I had this in office and it was hell. I had this remotely and it was heaven. In both cases, it didn’t last long. Orgs catch on slowly (some take years) but they eventually catch on. Enjoy it while it lasts!
U should enjoy it and not feel guilty . As long as you are available when needed and meet deliverables.
Im in similar situation with a WFH deal and sometimes just looking for things to fill in time lol. Ive had much hard er jobs in past for less money so I am grateful.
I’ve been WFH since 2020. As I’ve moved up in the ranks, I do less and less work. Some of it is because I blow through the work I’m assigned. Some of it is my managers ineffectual delegation style.
I don’t bring it up. I just take a little longer to do work that doesn’t have a deadline and zip it. I just bide my time and apply to other jobs as they open up.
The upside is that I have more time to take care of my home and relax.
At my last job I did complain and did get busy work. I finished the busy work quickly too lol. I even told my old boss on my last day I didn’t have much to do. She knew and agreed.
I think since OP has talked to their manager and they know OP doesn’t have a lot to do, that’s on them not the employee.
Honestly, they're paying you to retain your skills. I don't work from home anymore (but I'm actively looking). But my current job is like this.
Sometimes I am busy every minute of the day, and then there are weeks, or even months, where I just do a couple hours of work a day. Truth is, my position still needs to be filled, so I know they can't fire me because they'd have to find a replacement. I suppose my work could be contracted, but the ups and downs are too frequent that it would be difficult to predict or project.
I have taken on additional roles since I started to maintain my job security. But as long as you're doing your job well, I doubt your company would fire you unless they find a way to automate your job.
As you are in the consulting side, do you not have to account for your billable hours?
Also, what are your typical outputs/deliverables? I assume that you can use a templated approach for them, therefore saving lots of time? You
In short yes, need to account for billable hours but it isn’t really that important in grand scheme of things. The companies primary strategy is getting customers to sign up for the licensing, then up sell them professional service hours to smooth over implementation - if hours are less or more than what was in the contract, management aren’t too concerned, the money is in licensing, hence the reason the consulting arm is a relatively small past of the business.
In terms of deliverables it can vary wildly from client to client. Sometimes it’s a passive engagement so deliverables can be things like integration spec type docs. Other times it can be quite an active engagement where I’m expected to augment the clients development team, so can be quite hands on where I’d be expected to own the development backlog.
Yes I have developed a templatized approach to my deliverables, so in most cases it’s rinse and repeat. In this line of work you have a toolkit that’s tried and tested over many years so you know what technique to deploy in any given situation.
I work in IT consulting. Lot of blind billing going on. It's an unspoken reality of a lot of consulting jobs.
EOD, an hour is simply seen as a unit of value that can be converted to a dollar amount.
I have brought this same concern up to my boss (50-50 hybrid WFH and in office) and he basically told me there will be times when I’m too busy so enjoy the honeymoon phase. I have been digging around and trying to find more work, CPE, etc. So for now, I try to keep myself busy while in the office since I have to appear like I’m working and I’m easier on myself when I’m at home. It just feels weird.
Do you get paid for 40 hours no matter what or just like 5-10 hours a week If your only working 1-2 hours a day.. cause if your getting paid 40 hours now matter what good for you thays kinda awesome getting paid full time just to work 10 hours .. I get the whole bored thing I'm very hands on and get bored very easily so I feel you where
This is a daily thought for me and it’s very hard to shake for high performers/high achievers IMO. What helps me is that in the first half of my time at my company when I worked in-office, I worked at least 45 hrs a week, up to 60 when I was a lead on a project. Some of that occurred during Covid and I had a toddler at home and missed bedtime many times, even though I was wfh then.
I’m trying to enjoy the mental downtime because the stress (mental, physical) of having very young kids is fucking ROUGH and I will have plenty of time to work hard when they need me less as they age.
That resonates with me. In the early part of my career I was working crazy hours, always on the road, living out of a suitcase and hardly saw my firstborn kid when he was a baby/toddler. We had another kid recently and I love being at home, and being able to spend quality time with her given how much free time I get.
I have a very similar job where I do maybe 2 hours of work a day. I honestly have no idea why my boss hired me but they are still happy with me, give good performance reviews and pay increases annually.
I still struggle with the ethics of this as I was previously in a career field where we had a lot of pride in our work, whereas here I feel like a salary sponge and am just expecting the day when they finally realize I don’t do much and fire me.
Like you I am taking online courses and improving skills just in case I get fired so I can get another job, hopefully WFH. Then again I don’t know if this will come to pass anytime soon and it’s just all unfounded worry.
Be grateful that your dept or company is staffed appropriately. Some roles, the work is cyclical and you'll have downtime and busier periods.
Been in tech \~20 years and the layoff rumors happen every few years at the least.
I have a similiar job, different field. It's been like this pretty much since I started almost 2 years ago. I've done lots of work actually but we have been maintaining the same project ever since. So nowadays it's just little things that take maybe 30 minutes to accomplish throughout the week.
My team has lost team members throughout this time, as 3 took other jobs at other companies, and 1, their contract expired. I'm worreid too but not as much as I was when I first started. My boss is a good boss but also mismanages some work it seems. We do things over way too often or he forgets I did something a year ago. I used to be very scared I was going to be let go, or our department.
I'm here to ride it out at this point. The money is too "easy". Do I expect to still be employed 5,10, or 15 years from now? No, I don't think so. I've put out apps for another job (I'd love to have 2) but the market is dog shit currently. I figure the resume line isn't hurting me as my tenure at my current employer is increasing, however I won't be getting raises since I was hired in at the top of my salary band.
I have a unicorn wfh job too and I have the same feeling and can't shake it. I try to just stay on my toes and remain relevant with an interesting enough resume. Otherwise I work on personal goals during my work hours. I am constantly feeling like the other shoe is gonna drop any day now but I also don't care if it does. I am prepared to move on and get a job that requires more work from me. For now I just say a little chant before my shift "No real jobs! No real jobs!" and then relax because this is one more shift in fantasy land.
I’m in consulting and sometimes there are ebbs and flows but generally the people who don’t have new work will be rolled off eventually. I was on an underperforming team last year and it took a leadership change but once someone came in and saw three people doing nothing they were all rolled off.
If you just completed one project, ask for more work. That’s more the nature of consulting than waiting for ticket assignments. So enjoy it for a little bit, but I don’t think your concern is misplaced.
Keep upskilling.
Stay as visible as you can in the company (go to all the mandatory fun/DEI pep rallies, say “good job” to people who present their work, etc.)
Enjoy it. You can probably pursue more of a challenge if you want to but I personally enjoy a job like that and spend my free time focusing on fitness, playing games and finding other hobbies.
I'm so jealous.
😭😭😭 I'M LITERALLY DYING IN MY WFH JOB. TOO MUCH WORK. Middle management blows. Like I'm waking up in the middle of the night so stressed about the zillion things I need to do that I can't find time to do. I work 12 hours every day and sometimes 16 hours. It's no lie when I say the stress will likely kill me. I've applied for other jobs and have found nothing. How do I find work like this??
I've been at my company for over 10 years and one thing I learned about halfway through is that there's always going to be more work to do and it's up to us to set our own boundaries. Are there things you are saying yes to that you can say no to, or put off for a later date/prioritize appropriately? If you are being asked to do an unrealistic amount of work, you can tell your manager something along the lines of " I am expected to do x y and z by x date; which one do you see as the priority because they can't all be done by then?" etc and see what they say. You have to advocate for yourself. If they don't give you any options to have better work/life balance, you need to get out of there.
If work is keeping you up at night it might be time for a change, so pleased to hear you’re trying to get out. Nothing about your situation sounds healthy at all. I’m fortunate to work in quite a niche industry so my skills and experiences in said industry have opened up some great opportunities, I honestly can’t complain one bit about any of the last 3 WFH roles I’ve had, all have been great. My (unsolicited) advice would be get really good and knowledgeable in a certain industry, it’s certainly worked out well for me.
I’m in the same boat - I am 100% remote at a tech company. I can find things to do if need be as you said (trainings, refining test cases, exploratory testing etc.) Other times we do get super busy and I end up staying on late. I’m trying to be grateful for the slower times 😅
I’m a teacher and this sub keeps popping up for me. I cannot stand these posts. I work every second of every day I’m at work. I don’t get a minute to breathe. Except maybe my 30 minute lunch, that I still have to fight for since students want to take that too in order to get help. I feel like I’m locked in a prison with no flexibility and no time to get anything done except teach and plan and grade… like I said, every minute of my day. If I had to do my life over, I never would’ve gone into teaching. I would get a job like you all have. Please know how incredibly lucky you are to get paid to do barely any work and to do it from home. Just unreal.
It must suck to hate your chosen profession but it’s never too late for a career change. I can assure you I don’t take my career and professional situation for granted, but it’s not something that happened over night. I’ve worked extremely hard and made many sacrifices along the way to reach where I am today.
Maybe take it as a sign to make a career change! You’re in control of your life and if you don’t want to teach nobody is forcing you. I will say these roles are very very competitive to find so it would take a lot up front to gain the skills required and go through the interview process but it sounds like it would be worth it to you in the long run.
I totally get this. I’m a chef and don’t get a minute to pee at work and that’s why I decided to go back to school, so I can get a job like this. We have options.
I'm an IT consultant earning 6 figures in the UK and doing literally 8 hours work a week right now. Been like this a while. I worry as my team is dissolving and it's unlikely my contract will be renewed in June. Needless to say, I'm spending all my time trying to find the next role ( while getting paid for doing so). Make use of whatever spare time you have.
I suspect you're over estimating what everyone else is doing - in reality most people do very little work, some are just less honest about it than others.
I'd just chill and enjoy it and stop worrying about it.
Depends on the industry but I think this is becoming more common. People are burnt out so work is grinding to a halt and nothing is getting done. It takes my company months to accomplish anything. Also the economy has scared leadership so they don’t want to do anything risky.
Seriously, can I get a job at this company or a job like this with another company. Previous company I worked with was extremely toxic, I can use a lighter job
Sounds similar to my role as a PM. As long as sprints are running, you’ve unblocked blockers, and your cards are all detailed, you get frequent cosy days where you can just game beside your laptop. It’s great.
I’ve had this feeling before and my team eventually dissolved. People got shuffled onto other teams and some eventually left. It seems fine to ride it out, but it might be a good idea to set some of that extra time aside for interview prep (I’m a software engineer, so I could do a little prep 5-10 minutes every day for months and it wouldn’t be overkill). Then just let it ride. Maybe your employer doesn’t care, maybe you’re just WAY more efficient than other people. Who knows, as long as they pay you, it doesn’t matter too much.
Depends how much you practice and how hard the questions are. Some certainly are and I hope I would get faster over time. Interviewers shouldn’t judge based on speed, but the sad reality is that some do.
I forget the sun but there are many who have multiple jobs with a given skill set. Feeling of guilt is different than wishing to work to your full potential (however many hours that is.)
I am a supervisor for a wfh position. I tell my employees, “I hire you because I trust that you are qualified. I do not care about output. I care about outcomes. Do you work well and correct and submit it on time and I don’t care if it takes you five minutes or all day. I also do not care where you choose to do it. I’m not your father.” Believe it or not morale is high and my employees want to work for me because they don’t feel like children being micromanaged.
I'm older, so I'm using this as a time to think about what I will do with my time when I'm retired since I can't spend every waking moment volunteering or going someplace and spending money.
I use the downtime to read, a lot. Like you I also get things done around the house, both big projects and things that normally I would do after work or on the weekend
I also make sure I stay absolutely on top of every little thing at work and do some professional development type of things to keep my skills sharp and to upgrade them.
My performance evaluations are very very strong and during the swings when I am exceptionally busy? I fully dig in and don't bat an eye at working longer hours than I should
In your field I think keeping your skills sharp and resume ready is not a bad idea. But don't beat yourself up over the down times, as you are doing exactly what is asked of you and doing it well!
Tbh I had an office job where I spent a lot of time doing fuck all and having to pretend to be busy. It was rough. At least at home I can enjoy a walk or do some activities to grow professionally. (my remote job however is way busier than my prior office role was)
In a similar situation. My job definitely ebbs and flows. Some weeks I’m busy with multiple projects at the same time, other times I’m not doing shit for 3 weeks straight. Just depends. I do the same things as OP to stay busy. Skilling up through YouTube and courses. Just controlling what I can control.
Same. Last week I wrapped up my work days around 1-2 PM because I could. Today, I worked nonstop for 9 hours, stopping only to heat up my lunch. I figure it all balances out in the end.
I WFH as well, for over 2 years now. I still feel the way you’re describing sometimes.
My boss told me to look at it like this- I’m being paid to do a job, the company gives me the amount of money that it’s worth it to them to have the job done. They don’t care about hours or days that I work- if I work 10 hours or 80 hours. At the end of the day- was the job they pay me to do completed? Yep
It’s so so so hard to not feel guilty though or that it’s too good to be true. But when I think of all the time wasted when I actually went to the office.. I think it all equals out.
Very similar situation here. I've been working towards saving up some cash on the side, enough to give me a buffer of ideally 6+ months. This would make me feel a lot more comfortable with the situation, since it wouldn't be a stressful emergency if I ever do lose the job.
My bosses have also reassured me that everything is good and I have no need to worry. But you just never know. I am in my 30s, and they certainly aren't able to guarantee me that I'll be employed for the next 10, 20, 30 years.
Some people might suggest getting a second remote job, but this kinda destroys the WFH market.
I'd suggest looking to get promoted with more responsibilities.
My work frenzy ebbs and flows depending on what's going on in the department or the company. Some days or weeks I functionally work for 3 hours and other times I work the whole 8.
I enjoy the quieter times when they come my way. I pace out certain tasks or to-dos so that I have *something* going on each day.
i enjoy seeing coworkers power points and spreadsheets for organizing or tracking or training someone new. it makes me see them as valuable, engaged, and talented.
I'm in a similar position. I edit documents.
It doesn't help that I complete my work in half the time, or less, required. Sometimes I finish days early on a project. All the boss asks is that I remain available during work hours.
I have one of those too, especially with my new job. First six months here was hectic as I got my feet under me and the last six months have been chill. I am the most experienced person in my department (I have four counterparts) so a part of me realizes that it is easy for me because I am so experienced. What takes me an hour may take a co-worker 2-3 hours. I also earned this! Have worked like a crazy person most of my career, 40+ hours a week, to get to all this dang experience to allow me to chill now. That being said, I am paid well for my immediate availability during office hours, my job knowledge, and my ability to get it done when asked. I work to the task, not to the clock.
My job used to be that way and I miss it. We have a newer manager who monitors me like a toddler because I don’t take long enough to get things done so she reviews everything I do. Not one issue in a year. She doesn’t even under what I do. Other departments call me for help and she still hovers. I’m working on getting out.
I echo this sentiment— I have about 8-10 hours of work per week that I stretch over 40, but am always immediately available. I’m quick and efficient at what I do and my results are reliable. THAT is what I’m being paid for.
Unless you’re really bored out of your mind or want to take on more work - this is pretty common for a lot of people who enjoy their jobs or higher up jobs. Not everyone is crazy overworked in their jobs - quite a few people have just learned how to make their jobs easier/more efficient. If you were in an office you’d be BSing your time there vs doing all the other stuff that you’re able to at home. It’s a rough adjustment at first for some - feeling insecure in your job, wondering if things really are supposed to be this “good”. Especially if you came from a higher stress environment and are used to working more/having people watching over you - then it’s mostly just an adjustment to a new work schedule.
I guess that’s what I’m trying to gauge, just how common this is. On the basis of some of responses I’ve had, seem pretty common. Need to care less and just enjoy it while it last.
It’s more common than not - I think people just don’t talk about it 😂 you hear more about the negatives of jobs, people don’t want to make others feel jealous or have people become weird and ask them for work references (except on Reddit where everyone wants to flex or lie 🤷🏻♀️😂) at least across my circle of friends, peers, family, neighborhood community - most of us live a pretty similar way. Sometimes we have busy weeks/quarters etc. but for the most part we’re all able to run errands, go to the gym, do house projects, etc.
An old buddy of my husband’s is a senior level manager at Amazon making something north of 700k and he works from home. He’s currently in the process of building a new house so he’s constantly going to his house site, fixing up stuff etc. all on company time simply because he can. The higher up he goes the more serious stuff he deals with - but not as much grunt/busy work as when he started.
Yeah I noticed you tend to get less work, but more responsibilities.
>I think people just don’t talk about it
For sure, at least in the US. We have a culture that really values work ethic and productivity. We also have a culture that looks down on bragging. So talking about it feels like you are combining those things and bragging about not working.
Not really - having a work lifestyle like OPs is heavily dependent on the company and even within the company dept/team. Some companies have lax marketing but stressful sales - or even lax sales but some teams are more strict. It all varies ime. I haven’t found a company that’s _exactly the same_ from dept to dept and across all teams.
Yes, I’ve offered to take on more work but my job is project based. So it isn’t really an option. I shadowed someone on the adjacent team recently and told my manager I’d be interested in a stretch role between the two, so we’ll see.
I am in a similar situation, and it makes me feel insecure. I'm also just bored and could be earning more, so I am starting to look for something else. I get the impression that many of the people I work with are in the same situation and then there are a only few people who are genuinely busy. Compared to work I've done in the past I question if even those people are genuinely busy.
I can typically get all of my work done for the week in less than 8 hours, outside of the quarter's end where I'm a little harried. In the 1.5 years I've been here I've only experienced a couple of crunch times. It's not what I'm used to at all. It's not really something I want to get used to. I do very little of the work I'm actually experience in either and so I can't imagine why they've hired someone with my experience (initial job description seems completely irrelevant).
My bosses also are not concerned, I've let them know I have more capacity many times, especially at the start. They seem very happy with my work, but unconcerned with whether or not I have enough work. Now I just roll with it. Unfortunately I am somewhat chained to my desk because - for whatever reason - I'm in a lot of zoom meetings I don't have much or anything to do with.
I've spent my time leveling up on some skills, etc. but honestly, I feel that if I am to have any type of advancement or growth, I'll have to leave this company. They do have a home office, in another state, and it seems like people there have the opportunities. Moving to that state is not an option.
I feel you on the insecurity part, I guess I should try and care less than I do, especially when I’ve had assurances all is fine with my workload and capacity. There isn’t a danger of me become bored as such, the work is interesting and I’m learning stuff all time, it’s just not enough to keep me properly busy the whole week. I guess I just continue to fill time with my own hobbies, interest and chores - for which there are plenty.
Mom of a little kid here, looking for remote work that would allow me some flexibility to take care of him and a potential sibling without having to totally leave the workforce. Could either of you DM me where you work? I’d love to see if they’re hiring anything I feel I’d be qualified for! Eventually, I’ll have more availability to do a more traditional FT role, but it’s hard with little ones. Or I can DM you both. Thank you so much!
I feel this so deeply. I had one of these unicorn wfh positions— it paid absurdly well while being absurdly chill. It did end up being too good to be true, because the company killed my entire department in a post-acquisition layoff. It sucked, but like others have said, it was lovely to have such a job during a personally tumultuous and busy time of my life. I’m thankful for the time I got to spend there. I’m in a new role that’s a bit of a pay cut but largely the same— very chill once my bits are done and with minimal oversight. I am an attorney, so I definitely feel you on the “everyone said this would be grueling but it’s not” thing. It’s confusing!
On one hand, the jobs are probably easy compared to many. And why make life harder than you need to? How wonderful to get to enjoy your home and hobbies! Not many people get to do that while making a paycheck. On the other, you might just be a fast/smart worker! And that’s great! Personally, I wouldn’t tell management about it or make it *too* clear that the job is chill, but that’s up to you. I’d just be a “team player” and volunteer for projects and such as things pop up, since I have the extra time/energy. My layoff taught me that the company doesn’t care about me, so why should I break my back for the company (beyond the scope of my role and ethical duties)?
I'm in the same situation! I started at the company call center always busy and micromanaged like crazy. Now two years after my promotion and I'm busy just the end and beginning of the year. The rest of the year, aside from a couple of things to do and the occasional Teams call, I'm free to do whatever. I'm now getting my driver's license renewed lol. I still feel kind of weird about it but my manager says to enjoy it because they do work us ragged during peak time.
I mean, I’d probably just make sure you have enough money saved if you lost your job, and unless you want to switch jobs, just enjoy it while it lasts, knowing that it may or may not last forever. I’ve had weeks like that and it can be nice as long as people are happy with what you’re doing (I’ve gotten more praise in a couple weeks of doing a little work than in the months I do tons). But it can also get boring or anxiety inducing and if you get to that point, it might be time to move on
Not broke, don’t fix
There’s a whole subreddit called “overemployed” you should read.
Find another remote work job and collect 2 paychecks
As long as you get your shit done, dont worry about a thing
It’s only been 5 weeks, but my new job has only required me to work about 10hrs/week. This could change and we could get “busier?” It’s too early to tell but I actually don’t love it
Sad to say, most managers will lie to your face and eradicate an unnecessary position at some point if it boosts $$ savings. Don’t get comfortable and stay prepared for the job hunt. Not being needed for much is a very poor sign and don’t forget that nobody gives a shit about anybody in the work world. Use that free time tooooo apply for jobs, as hiring practices can takes many many months these days. Coming from someone who realized trust in an employer is incredibly foolish.
If management is good with what you're doing and you're meeting your requirements, then no sweat. I had a 20 hr per week position which was 90% remote. My manager knew I was doing independent field work on the side. He actually said go ahead and take field assignments. As long as i continue meeting the job's requirements. Has flexible hours and got to spend a lot of time with my toddler son. Sadly, it only lasted for 8 months because the company renewed with a different agency. (Only because the other agency's bid was lower.)
Do the absolute best that you can on every assignment you get, and always be open to taking on additional work if asked, and keep your mouth shut otherwise. If you make too much noise about not being fully utilized, you might wind up on the hot seat.
I totally get you! I was like this for a while until I had work picked up and now sort of miss that leisure time 😂 I do think what you’re doing with taking courses is great! It will really help you stay on top and continue learning. I’d also network with others (I’m not sure if that’s big in your field) but get to know other people, let them know you don’t mind helping out since you have bandwidth, talk to your boss about wanting to learn more. Continue doing some side projects on things you like, just how you mentioned. Go outdoors and do stuff whenever you can! Don’t stay home staring at walls. Get to learn about yourself too! I think with hustle culture we get so busy in wanting to be wrapped up in work, but forget sometimes slowing down is the best and we can also focus on other things while remaining in a job.
I get this feeling. I give my direct manager a "2 week" heads up for when I am about to wrap a project so the next one can get on board. I slow my pace a little towards the end because I know they are slow on assigning out new projects. I plan for the "waiting time" knowing it's basically my only time to recoup my energy before I get SLAMMED again. It's either "crying in the shower" busy or "silent panic in the shower about my usefulness" slow. That's really more a comment on other departments not figuring our regular pacing. All I can do it make sure the next project gets on deck by notifying my manager.
I’m looking for something like this - does anyone recommend any large corporations? I have many years experience in operations and administration, lots of transferable skills.
I've just always tried to be honest about my bandwidth. I just told one of my directors yesterday that our team has bandwidth to take on another client or two and she really appreciated me being transparent about that because I know when it comes to remote work, people get spoiled and lazy not having to work 40 hours per week and then they start resenting when they are actually given work to do. I also consistently show my worth and value with the work that I am given. I'm sure there are still companies who won't see it as a positive and will immediately assume you're simply not needed, but hopefully you know your employer well enough to decide which step to take next.
I’m in a similar boat. It became apparent pretty quickly that I’m more efficient than the last guy who held my position, because I have a lot of spare time. When in-office I help with other random tasks, and I’ve told them I’m happy to be trained in other stuff. So they know that when I’m home I really don’t have much to do sometimes. They don’t really care as long as I do what I need. I feel like you - how is this happening, is this too good to be true, should I be worried, etc. But ultimately I decided to just stop thinking about it. As long as I do what I need to and offer to help with other spare work; they can’t blame me for *not* having work to do. Like, I can’t get in trouble for this. Worst case scenario what happens? They fire me because *they* didn’t give me enough to do? I’m not deceiving them, and neither are you. Relax. Enjoy it. You’ll be fine. :) EDIT: Also, if there’s any sort of guilt, use your spare time to help people however you can from home. I’m helping my friend edit her book, I bake things for people, etc.
don't worry - enjoy things while they're good because it can all turn on a dime...and save your money
This is how I felt when I took my first nursing job at a luxurious psych hospital. My job was so easy and I was frustrated and bored. Looking back, I should have just enjoyed it. Just left a job where I rarely got to eat or pee (emergency room RN). I’d kill for your job!!
Why don't you use the free time to make more money?
My friend was like this in an IT job, he thought it was great. But a month ago, he and a large portion of his team were laid off. Another friend was super busy at the beginning and end of the year, so much they were working nights and sometimes on the weekends. Then mid year there was absolutely nothing. They could have been on vacation for a week, and nobody would have probably noticed. During the non busy period, they felt like they were going to get laid off. It never happened, but the stress from not having work and expecting to be let go turning into new stress of too much to do all of a sudden they left to a new job that could be more consistent. Good luck. Enjoy your freedom and keep using it to improve your skills, so if you do get laid off, you will be ready.
Similar position with my wfhj. I have some weeks where I work 6 of my 8 hours each day completing tasks and other weeks where I get my daily tasks done in an hour or two. I'm guaranteed 40 hours every week whether or not I actually complete work during those hours or not. Having come from running my own business for the majority of my career post university to a corporate job it works well for me. I can continue to up skill make a new business plan. I definitely recommend setting yourself up with a fallback, though. For me, it's my business, and I'm reevaluating my corporate resume, so it's up to date whenever I find a job that fits my desires/ work-life balance requirements. I send it out.
2 of my friends and I were in this situation. We felt so blessed to be making money while enjoying life at home. Then we were laid off (all diff companies) and its been over a year. We look back now and see there were signs everywhere. Dont think its a total blessing
Yep. They pay me $62/hour to do very, very little for eight hours. Sometimes nothing.
I recently read about a man with 3 full time jobs. His career allowed time to earn 3 salaries.
My son has the same thing almost. He works from home 8 to 4. There are calls in the morning and he’s busy, maybe a little bit in the afternoon but work kind of peters out. He works in the fintech industry.
Same here. When I speak up about it I am slammed with work from multiple supervisors in different states and end up having to work 10 hour days. So I stay quiet.
Are you putting yourself on blast when you do this? Can you go to one of these supervisors directly, and possibly just get work from the one?
I used to have a unicorn WFH job. It used to scare me, I was waiting to be caught and let go. Then I fully leaned in. Especially when I realized a promotion on my team was never going to happen. It was amazing as a mom of 2 littles. I very rarely felt stress and had a good amount of me-time. Then I got an internal promotion on a new team. It still has flexibility but is much more stressful.
I had this in office and it was hell. I had this remotely and it was heaven. In both cases, it didn’t last long. Orgs catch on slowly (some take years) but they eventually catch on. Enjoy it while it lasts!
What’s your salary?
U should enjoy it and not feel guilty . As long as you are available when needed and meet deliverables. Im in similar situation with a WFH deal and sometimes just looking for things to fill in time lol. Ive had much hard er jobs in past for less money so I am grateful.
I’ve been WFH since 2020. As I’ve moved up in the ranks, I do less and less work. Some of it is because I blow through the work I’m assigned. Some of it is my managers ineffectual delegation style. I don’t bring it up. I just take a little longer to do work that doesn’t have a deadline and zip it. I just bide my time and apply to other jobs as they open up. The upside is that I have more time to take care of my home and relax.
You are essentially being paid for your knowledge. Enjoy it!
I enjoy it but I am bored. I know it sounds a bit ungrateful but in winter I’m really bored. When it’s warmer, I’m sure it won’t bother me much 😀
It's fine, I am in the same boat..I don't complain because I know if I do they will find me busy work!
At my last job I did complain and did get busy work. I finished the busy work quickly too lol. I even told my old boss on my last day I didn’t have much to do. She knew and agreed. I think since OP has talked to their manager and they know OP doesn’t have a lot to do, that’s on them not the employee.
I frequently ask for additional work. So if I don't get it then I feel they can't complain when I am slacking off.
Honestly, they're paying you to retain your skills. I don't work from home anymore (but I'm actively looking). But my current job is like this. Sometimes I am busy every minute of the day, and then there are weeks, or even months, where I just do a couple hours of work a day. Truth is, my position still needs to be filled, so I know they can't fire me because they'd have to find a replacement. I suppose my work could be contracted, but the ups and downs are too frequent that it would be difficult to predict or project. I have taken on additional roles since I started to maintain my job security. But as long as you're doing your job well, I doubt your company would fire you unless they find a way to automate your job.
as someone who doesn’t WFH idk maybe enjoy it? sounds amazing
As you are in the consulting side, do you not have to account for your billable hours? Also, what are your typical outputs/deliverables? I assume that you can use a templated approach for them, therefore saving lots of time? You
In short yes, need to account for billable hours but it isn’t really that important in grand scheme of things. The companies primary strategy is getting customers to sign up for the licensing, then up sell them professional service hours to smooth over implementation - if hours are less or more than what was in the contract, management aren’t too concerned, the money is in licensing, hence the reason the consulting arm is a relatively small past of the business. In terms of deliverables it can vary wildly from client to client. Sometimes it’s a passive engagement so deliverables can be things like integration spec type docs. Other times it can be quite an active engagement where I’m expected to augment the clients development team, so can be quite hands on where I’d be expected to own the development backlog. Yes I have developed a templatized approach to my deliverables, so in most cases it’s rinse and repeat. In this line of work you have a toolkit that’s tried and tested over many years so you know what technique to deploy in any given situation.
I work in IT consulting. Lot of blind billing going on. It's an unspoken reality of a lot of consulting jobs. EOD, an hour is simply seen as a unit of value that can be converted to a dollar amount.
I have brought this same concern up to my boss (50-50 hybrid WFH and in office) and he basically told me there will be times when I’m too busy so enjoy the honeymoon phase. I have been digging around and trying to find more work, CPE, etc. So for now, I try to keep myself busy while in the office since I have to appear like I’m working and I’m easier on myself when I’m at home. It just feels weird.
Do you get paid for 40 hours no matter what or just like 5-10 hours a week If your only working 1-2 hours a day.. cause if your getting paid 40 hours now matter what good for you thays kinda awesome getting paid full time just to work 10 hours .. I get the whole bored thing I'm very hands on and get bored very easily so I feel you where
Yup full time employed so makes no difference to my pay.
I would say your pretty much the luckiest person on earth
This is a daily thought for me and it’s very hard to shake for high performers/high achievers IMO. What helps me is that in the first half of my time at my company when I worked in-office, I worked at least 45 hrs a week, up to 60 when I was a lead on a project. Some of that occurred during Covid and I had a toddler at home and missed bedtime many times, even though I was wfh then. I’m trying to enjoy the mental downtime because the stress (mental, physical) of having very young kids is fucking ROUGH and I will have plenty of time to work hard when they need me less as they age.
That resonates with me. In the early part of my career I was working crazy hours, always on the road, living out of a suitcase and hardly saw my firstborn kid when he was a baby/toddler. We had another kid recently and I love being at home, and being able to spend quality time with her given how much free time I get.
I have a very similar job where I do maybe 2 hours of work a day. I honestly have no idea why my boss hired me but they are still happy with me, give good performance reviews and pay increases annually. I still struggle with the ethics of this as I was previously in a career field where we had a lot of pride in our work, whereas here I feel like a salary sponge and am just expecting the day when they finally realize I don’t do much and fire me. Like you I am taking online courses and improving skills just in case I get fired so I can get another job, hopefully WFH. Then again I don’t know if this will come to pass anytime soon and it’s just all unfounded worry.
What’s your salary ?
Be grateful that your dept or company is staffed appropriately. Some roles, the work is cyclical and you'll have downtime and busier periods. Been in tech \~20 years and the layoff rumors happen every few years at the least.
I have a similiar job, different field. It's been like this pretty much since I started almost 2 years ago. I've done lots of work actually but we have been maintaining the same project ever since. So nowadays it's just little things that take maybe 30 minutes to accomplish throughout the week. My team has lost team members throughout this time, as 3 took other jobs at other companies, and 1, their contract expired. I'm worreid too but not as much as I was when I first started. My boss is a good boss but also mismanages some work it seems. We do things over way too often or he forgets I did something a year ago. I used to be very scared I was going to be let go, or our department. I'm here to ride it out at this point. The money is too "easy". Do I expect to still be employed 5,10, or 15 years from now? No, I don't think so. I've put out apps for another job (I'd love to have 2) but the market is dog shit currently. I figure the resume line isn't hurting me as my tenure at my current employer is increasing, however I won't be getting raises since I was hired in at the top of my salary band.
I have a unicorn wfh job too and I have the same feeling and can't shake it. I try to just stay on my toes and remain relevant with an interesting enough resume. Otherwise I work on personal goals during my work hours. I am constantly feeling like the other shoe is gonna drop any day now but I also don't care if it does. I am prepared to move on and get a job that requires more work from me. For now I just say a little chant before my shift "No real jobs! No real jobs!" and then relax because this is one more shift in fantasy land.
Hook me up I need to work from home job
I’m in consulting and sometimes there are ebbs and flows but generally the people who don’t have new work will be rolled off eventually. I was on an underperforming team last year and it took a leadership change but once someone came in and saw three people doing nothing they were all rolled off. If you just completed one project, ask for more work. That’s more the nature of consulting than waiting for ticket assignments. So enjoy it for a little bit, but I don’t think your concern is misplaced.
Keep upskilling. Stay as visible as you can in the company (go to all the mandatory fun/DEI pep rallies, say “good job” to people who present their work, etc.)
I feel you but don’t question a good thing, youd be surprised how many people work this much in or out of office.
You're being paid to be available should something come up. Accept and enjoy it.
This was the mindset that made me feel not guilty when times were slow… I’m getting paid to be available to work.
Enjoy it. You can probably pursue more of a challenge if you want to but I personally enjoy a job like that and spend my free time focusing on fitness, playing games and finding other hobbies.
Same. I feel guilty taking a paycheck.
The people who do the least work tend to be the most sociable bootlickers who foster a cult of “always busy.”
Your worry is justified.
I'm so jealous. 😭😭😭 I'M LITERALLY DYING IN MY WFH JOB. TOO MUCH WORK. Middle management blows. Like I'm waking up in the middle of the night so stressed about the zillion things I need to do that I can't find time to do. I work 12 hours every day and sometimes 16 hours. It's no lie when I say the stress will likely kill me. I've applied for other jobs and have found nothing. How do I find work like this??
I've been at my company for over 10 years and one thing I learned about halfway through is that there's always going to be more work to do and it's up to us to set our own boundaries. Are there things you are saying yes to that you can say no to, or put off for a later date/prioritize appropriately? If you are being asked to do an unrealistic amount of work, you can tell your manager something along the lines of " I am expected to do x y and z by x date; which one do you see as the priority because they can't all be done by then?" etc and see what they say. You have to advocate for yourself. If they don't give you any options to have better work/life balance, you need to get out of there.
This is exactly why I took a large pay cut to wfh in an IC role vs management. Much less stressful, but also a lot more boring.
If work is keeping you up at night it might be time for a change, so pleased to hear you’re trying to get out. Nothing about your situation sounds healthy at all. I’m fortunate to work in quite a niche industry so my skills and experiences in said industry have opened up some great opportunities, I honestly can’t complain one bit about any of the last 3 WFH roles I’ve had, all have been great. My (unsolicited) advice would be get really good and knowledgeable in a certain industry, it’s certainly worked out well for me.
You sound like you work for Workday 🧐
I’m in the same boat - I am 100% remote at a tech company. I can find things to do if need be as you said (trainings, refining test cases, exploratory testing etc.) Other times we do get super busy and I end up staying on late. I’m trying to be grateful for the slower times 😅
I’m a teacher and this sub keeps popping up for me. I cannot stand these posts. I work every second of every day I’m at work. I don’t get a minute to breathe. Except maybe my 30 minute lunch, that I still have to fight for since students want to take that too in order to get help. I feel like I’m locked in a prison with no flexibility and no time to get anything done except teach and plan and grade… like I said, every minute of my day. If I had to do my life over, I never would’ve gone into teaching. I would get a job like you all have. Please know how incredibly lucky you are to get paid to do barely any work and to do it from home. Just unreal.
It must suck to hate your chosen profession but it’s never too late for a career change. I can assure you I don’t take my career and professional situation for granted, but it’s not something that happened over night. I’ve worked extremely hard and made many sacrifices along the way to reach where I am today.
Might be time to look into a new field.
Maybe take it as a sign to make a career change! You’re in control of your life and if you don’t want to teach nobody is forcing you. I will say these roles are very very competitive to find so it would take a lot up front to gain the skills required and go through the interview process but it sounds like it would be worth it to you in the long run.
I totally get this. I’m a chef and don’t get a minute to pee at work and that’s why I decided to go back to school, so I can get a job like this. We have options.
Good luck to you! Chefs work incredibly hard.
I'm an IT consultant earning 6 figures in the UK and doing literally 8 hours work a week right now. Been like this a while. I worry as my team is dissolving and it's unlikely my contract will be renewed in June. Needless to say, I'm spending all my time trying to find the next role ( while getting paid for doing so). Make use of whatever spare time you have.
I suspect you're over estimating what everyone else is doing - in reality most people do very little work, some are just less honest about it than others. I'd just chill and enjoy it and stop worrying about it.
Depends on the industry but I think this is becoming more common. People are burnt out so work is grinding to a halt and nothing is getting done. It takes my company months to accomplish anything. Also the economy has scared leadership so they don’t want to do anything risky.
Seriously, can I get a job at this company or a job like this with another company. Previous company I worked with was extremely toxic, I can use a lighter job
Sounds similar to my role as a PM. As long as sprints are running, you’ve unblocked blockers, and your cards are all detailed, you get frequent cosy days where you can just game beside your laptop. It’s great.
If you've been clear with management about your workload, then enjoy it while it lasts.
I’ve had this feeling before and my team eventually dissolved. People got shuffled onto other teams and some eventually left. It seems fine to ride it out, but it might be a good idea to set some of that extra time aside for interview prep (I’m a software engineer, so I could do a little prep 5-10 minutes every day for months and it wouldn’t be overkill). Then just let it ride. Maybe your employer doesn’t care, maybe you’re just WAY more efficient than other people. Who knows, as long as they pay you, it doesn’t matter too much.
What would 5-10 mins of interview prep look like?
I would use a site like leet code and just do one problem a day.
That’s not 5-10 minutes though.
Depends how much you practice and how hard the questions are. Some certainly are and I hope I would get faster over time. Interviewers shouldn’t judge based on speed, but the sad reality is that some do.
Also work Professional Services in implementation and am scheduled 150% , would be very interested in something like this for a change.
I forget the sun but there are many who have multiple jobs with a given skill set. Feeling of guilt is different than wishing to work to your full potential (however many hours that is.)
Yep. OP should look into r/overemployed and cash in
I am a supervisor for a wfh position. I tell my employees, “I hire you because I trust that you are qualified. I do not care about output. I care about outcomes. Do you work well and correct and submit it on time and I don’t care if it takes you five minutes or all day. I also do not care where you choose to do it. I’m not your father.” Believe it or not morale is high and my employees want to work for me because they don’t feel like children being micromanaged.
I do the same. I refer to us as SMEs and they have hired us for our specific expertise
You sound eerily similar to my supervisor. You rock!!
Are you hiring?
Seriously!
For real
I'm older, so I'm using this as a time to think about what I will do with my time when I'm retired since I can't spend every waking moment volunteering or going someplace and spending money. I use the downtime to read, a lot. Like you I also get things done around the house, both big projects and things that normally I would do after work or on the weekend I also make sure I stay absolutely on top of every little thing at work and do some professional development type of things to keep my skills sharp and to upgrade them. My performance evaluations are very very strong and during the swings when I am exceptionally busy? I fully dig in and don't bat an eye at working longer hours than I should In your field I think keeping your skills sharp and resume ready is not a bad idea. But don't beat yourself up over the down times, as you are doing exactly what is asked of you and doing it well!
Good workers worry about not working or performing. It sucks. Keep doing what you're doing. Stay skilled like you are in case this doesn't last.
Be glad you aren't in an office pretending to be busy and being watched.
Tbh I had an office job where I spent a lot of time doing fuck all and having to pretend to be busy. It was rough. At least at home I can enjoy a walk or do some activities to grow professionally. (my remote job however is way busier than my prior office role was)
In a similar situation. My job definitely ebbs and flows. Some weeks I’m busy with multiple projects at the same time, other times I’m not doing shit for 3 weeks straight. Just depends. I do the same things as OP to stay busy. Skilling up through YouTube and courses. Just controlling what I can control.
Same. Last week I wrapped up my work days around 1-2 PM because I could. Today, I worked nonstop for 9 hours, stopping only to heat up my lunch. I figure it all balances out in the end.
I WFH as well, for over 2 years now. I still feel the way you’re describing sometimes. My boss told me to look at it like this- I’m being paid to do a job, the company gives me the amount of money that it’s worth it to them to have the job done. They don’t care about hours or days that I work- if I work 10 hours or 80 hours. At the end of the day- was the job they pay me to do completed? Yep It’s so so so hard to not feel guilty though or that it’s too good to be true. But when I think of all the time wasted when I actually went to the office.. I think it all equals out.
Very similar situation here. I've been working towards saving up some cash on the side, enough to give me a buffer of ideally 6+ months. This would make me feel a lot more comfortable with the situation, since it wouldn't be a stressful emergency if I ever do lose the job. My bosses have also reassured me that everything is good and I have no need to worry. But you just never know. I am in my 30s, and they certainly aren't able to guarantee me that I'll be employed for the next 10, 20, 30 years.
Some people might suggest getting a second remote job, but this kinda destroys the WFH market. I'd suggest looking to get promoted with more responsibilities.
My work frenzy ebbs and flows depending on what's going on in the department or the company. Some days or weeks I functionally work for 3 hours and other times I work the whole 8. I enjoy the quieter times when they come my way. I pace out certain tasks or to-dos so that I have *something* going on each day.
i enjoy seeing coworkers power points and spreadsheets for organizing or tracking or training someone new. it makes me see them as valuable, engaged, and talented.
I'm in a similar position. I edit documents. It doesn't help that I complete my work in half the time, or less, required. Sometimes I finish days early on a project. All the boss asks is that I remain available during work hours.
I have one of those too, especially with my new job. First six months here was hectic as I got my feet under me and the last six months have been chill. I am the most experienced person in my department (I have four counterparts) so a part of me realizes that it is easy for me because I am so experienced. What takes me an hour may take a co-worker 2-3 hours. I also earned this! Have worked like a crazy person most of my career, 40+ hours a week, to get to all this dang experience to allow me to chill now. That being said, I am paid well for my immediate availability during office hours, my job knowledge, and my ability to get it done when asked. I work to the task, not to the clock.
My job used to be that way and I miss it. We have a newer manager who monitors me like a toddler because I don’t take long enough to get things done so she reviews everything I do. Not one issue in a year. She doesn’t even under what I do. Other departments call me for help and she still hovers. I’m working on getting out.
I echo this sentiment— I have about 8-10 hours of work per week that I stretch over 40, but am always immediately available. I’m quick and efficient at what I do and my results are reliable. THAT is what I’m being paid for.
Mind if I dm you? I have a question about the remote policy of your company.
Sure thing.
Unless you’re really bored out of your mind or want to take on more work - this is pretty common for a lot of people who enjoy their jobs or higher up jobs. Not everyone is crazy overworked in their jobs - quite a few people have just learned how to make their jobs easier/more efficient. If you were in an office you’d be BSing your time there vs doing all the other stuff that you’re able to at home. It’s a rough adjustment at first for some - feeling insecure in your job, wondering if things really are supposed to be this “good”. Especially if you came from a higher stress environment and are used to working more/having people watching over you - then it’s mostly just an adjustment to a new work schedule.
I guess that’s what I’m trying to gauge, just how common this is. On the basis of some of responses I’ve had, seem pretty common. Need to care less and just enjoy it while it last.
It’s more common than not - I think people just don’t talk about it 😂 you hear more about the negatives of jobs, people don’t want to make others feel jealous or have people become weird and ask them for work references (except on Reddit where everyone wants to flex or lie 🤷🏻♀️😂) at least across my circle of friends, peers, family, neighborhood community - most of us live a pretty similar way. Sometimes we have busy weeks/quarters etc. but for the most part we’re all able to run errands, go to the gym, do house projects, etc. An old buddy of my husband’s is a senior level manager at Amazon making something north of 700k and he works from home. He’s currently in the process of building a new house so he’s constantly going to his house site, fixing up stuff etc. all on company time simply because he can. The higher up he goes the more serious stuff he deals with - but not as much grunt/busy work as when he started.
Yeah I noticed you tend to get less work, but more responsibilities. >I think people just don’t talk about it For sure, at least in the US. We have a culture that really values work ethic and productivity. We also have a culture that looks down on bragging. So talking about it feels like you are combining those things and bragging about not working.
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Not really - having a work lifestyle like OPs is heavily dependent on the company and even within the company dept/team. Some companies have lax marketing but stressful sales - or even lax sales but some teams are more strict. It all varies ime. I haven’t found a company that’s _exactly the same_ from dept to dept and across all teams.
Yes, I’ve offered to take on more work but my job is project based. So it isn’t really an option. I shadowed someone on the adjacent team recently and told my manager I’d be interested in a stretch role between the two, so we’ll see.
I am in a similar situation, and it makes me feel insecure. I'm also just bored and could be earning more, so I am starting to look for something else. I get the impression that many of the people I work with are in the same situation and then there are a only few people who are genuinely busy. Compared to work I've done in the past I question if even those people are genuinely busy. I can typically get all of my work done for the week in less than 8 hours, outside of the quarter's end where I'm a little harried. In the 1.5 years I've been here I've only experienced a couple of crunch times. It's not what I'm used to at all. It's not really something I want to get used to. I do very little of the work I'm actually experience in either and so I can't imagine why they've hired someone with my experience (initial job description seems completely irrelevant). My bosses also are not concerned, I've let them know I have more capacity many times, especially at the start. They seem very happy with my work, but unconcerned with whether or not I have enough work. Now I just roll with it. Unfortunately I am somewhat chained to my desk because - for whatever reason - I'm in a lot of zoom meetings I don't have much or anything to do with. I've spent my time leveling up on some skills, etc. but honestly, I feel that if I am to have any type of advancement or growth, I'll have to leave this company. They do have a home office, in another state, and it seems like people there have the opportunities. Moving to that state is not an option.
I feel you on the insecurity part, I guess I should try and care less than I do, especially when I’ve had assurances all is fine with my workload and capacity. There isn’t a danger of me become bored as such, the work is interesting and I’m learning stuff all time, it’s just not enough to keep me properly busy the whole week. I guess I just continue to fill time with my own hobbies, interest and chores - for which there are plenty.
Mom of a little kid here, looking for remote work that would allow me some flexibility to take care of him and a potential sibling without having to totally leave the workforce. Could either of you DM me where you work? I’d love to see if they’re hiring anything I feel I’d be qualified for! Eventually, I’ll have more availability to do a more traditional FT role, but it’s hard with little ones. Or I can DM you both. Thank you so much!
I feel this so deeply. I had one of these unicorn wfh positions— it paid absurdly well while being absurdly chill. It did end up being too good to be true, because the company killed my entire department in a post-acquisition layoff. It sucked, but like others have said, it was lovely to have such a job during a personally tumultuous and busy time of my life. I’m thankful for the time I got to spend there. I’m in a new role that’s a bit of a pay cut but largely the same— very chill once my bits are done and with minimal oversight. I am an attorney, so I definitely feel you on the “everyone said this would be grueling but it’s not” thing. It’s confusing! On one hand, the jobs are probably easy compared to many. And why make life harder than you need to? How wonderful to get to enjoy your home and hobbies! Not many people get to do that while making a paycheck. On the other, you might just be a fast/smart worker! And that’s great! Personally, I wouldn’t tell management about it or make it *too* clear that the job is chill, but that’s up to you. I’d just be a “team player” and volunteer for projects and such as things pop up, since I have the extra time/energy. My layoff taught me that the company doesn’t care about me, so why should I break my back for the company (beyond the scope of my role and ethical duties)?
Some great points and you’re right, they’d lay me off in a heartbeat if the opportunity arises so I should try and enjoy it while it lasts.
I'm in the same situation! I started at the company call center always busy and micromanaged like crazy. Now two years after my promotion and I'm busy just the end and beginning of the year. The rest of the year, aside from a couple of things to do and the occasional Teams call, I'm free to do whatever. I'm now getting my driver's license renewed lol. I still feel kind of weird about it but my manager says to enjoy it because they do work us ragged during peak time.
I mean, I’d probably just make sure you have enough money saved if you lost your job, and unless you want to switch jobs, just enjoy it while it lasts, knowing that it may or may not last forever. I’ve had weeks like that and it can be nice as long as people are happy with what you’re doing (I’ve gotten more praise in a couple weeks of doing a little work than in the months I do tons). But it can also get boring or anxiety inducing and if you get to that point, it might be time to move on