This has been the bane of my existence in almost every job I’ve worked. “Look busy”, “don’t stand idle”, “delegate tasks for yourself”. My dude, if it’s not on the job description and it’s not a task I was onboarded in why would I do it?
But in life we’re just supposed to somehow already know. And assume that we should lie about how we’re spending our time. I’ve fought with multiple managers because I’ll just leave when I get far enough ahead of my work that the only thing left to do is pretend I’m still working. I’ve been reprimanded for helping other areas instead of just still pretending to do work in my own.
It happens in enough fields that I realize, the culture isn’t broken. This IS how average people get through their careers. I’m the one who can only survive in roles that don’t have a hard endpoint for tasks. Because I’m broken in someway that I can’t stop getting ahead of my work and I can’t make myself lie about it.
Sure. My most recent role I had this problem at was an oil recycling facility. But I’ve noticed the pattern in factories, at a landfill, in lumber, in warehouses. I only read that it happens in desk work so I appreciate hearing your take.
Yeah actually I got ebooks, essays, documentaries, and lectures so incorporated into my life that I don’t take jobs anymore where I can’t use headphones. Haven’t had one where I’d be permitted to read on the clock though.
Why should you feel guilty about doing some discreet reading/listening on the clock when all the rest of those lazy assholes can get away with it? Pardon my language, but seriously.
The only job worth putting 100% work into? Owning your own business. I did it before, and got sick of working all the time. Now, I’m finishing up a job where I could sit on my ass and read for half the shift because they were hurting so badly for people, and going into another role where when I work overnight shifts, I can basically read all the time.
I never feel guilty about listening discreetly, since the jobs that prohibited headphones have never respected my time or autonomy. Reading wouldn’t bother me if I was in a role where I wouldn’t be punished for it.
Lot of people have told me to do that. I’m not the best self advocate or high functioning enough to wear that many hats at once. Is it okay if I ask what job they let you read during?
I want to keep my new job private for my own personal reasons, but the previous job is a city janitor for various hockey arenas. I’ve learned not to burn myself out working for someone else, and I love the novelty of being able to work in a unionized environment, hence the sitting on my bum whenever I get the chance.
Don’t get me wrong, there are days where I don’t have any time to sit at all, but there’s a lot more downtime with this job than any others I’ve had.
Unionized makes a huge difference. I almost got made full-time at a unionized factory but I had to prove myself by hustling first and I caused an equipment failure
Then God or the Fates (or whatever you want to call the Universe) had better things in store for you than that job.
oof, if I attribute any intentional design to the things that have happened in my life we get to an “Evil Demon” situation pretty fast. But I appreciate the sentiment. I’m also praying to one day arrive at a place where it won’t feel so toxic to just exist
It happens in desk work too. But I’ve been lucky to work in places where people turn a blind eye, the other nice thing for me is as a dev in the industry I’m in, there’s always something new to learn on the internet.