Playing on phone or making an origami monkey. What’s the difference?

[Anonymous]

I work for a small company. Sometimes we have nothing to do for hours. We can only clean so much. We sit at the desk and most, if not all the employees are on their phones. Social media, shopping, watching shows etc… . I’d rather make origami or practice calligraphy to pass the time. At the last meeting, the manager said no one should be making crafts while at work. Obviously one of my coworkers told the manager. I’m confused as to why they think what they’re doing is ok? What’s the difference between playing on your phone or making an origami monkey? I’d like to know how to address this?

[Anonymous]

I’d spend my free time looking for my next job if everyone has that much free time. Doesn’t bode well for the health of the business.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP. there’s no difference it’s just someone being petty.

[Anonymous]

I often see absolute best employee sitting in the conference room reading a book. He doesn’t even try to hide it. I don’t care at all. He actually was 6x as good as my average employees (16x my worst employee).

I would ask what the difference is between playing on your phone and origami.

[Anonymous]

I want to see this origami monkey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to see this origami monkey

Hahaha it was so cute.

OP

[Anonymous]

Is this customer-facing or are their higher ups that can drop in? I'd think it's that someone looking at their phone or on their computer can plausibly be pretending they are looking at something work related, or else quickly pause their video or make it look like they were briefly checking their phone... but having a whole ass arts project going on makes it obvious work is slow and is hard to put away if someone passes by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this customer-facing or are their higher ups that can drop in? I'd think it's that someone looking at their phone or on their computer can plausibly be pretending they are looking at something work related, or else quickly pause their video or make it look like they were briefly checking their phone... but having a whole ass arts project going on makes it obvious work is slow and is hard to put away if someone passes by.

It’s not a customer drop in or higher ups surprising us. Mostly phone calls and customers who have appointments. I’m not making a piñata the size of a real donkey. It’s a 6”x6” piece of paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this customer-facing or are their higher ups that can drop in? I'd think it's that someone looking at their phone or on their computer can plausibly be pretending they are looking at something work related, or else quickly pause their video or make it look like they were briefly checking their phone... but having a whole ass arts project going on makes it obvious work is slow and is hard to put away if someone passes by.

This. Sadly, stupid crap on your phone is easier to justify than a valuable origami monkey. I don't like monkeys but I'm interested in flowers and cranes.

[Anonymous]

Well now it's bothering me that I can't figure this out. What type of job has multiple employees sitting around doing nothing for hours without sending some of you home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this customer-facing or are their higher ups that can drop in? I'd think it's that someone looking at their phone or on their computer can plausibly be pretending they are looking at something work related, or else quickly pause their video or make it look like they were briefly checking their phone... but having a whole ass arts project going on makes it obvious work is slow and is hard to put away if someone passes by.

This. Sadly, stupid crap on your phone is easier to justify than a valuable origami monkey. I don't like monkeys but I'm interested in flowers and cranes.

I’ve actually made flowers and tiny boxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well now it's bothering me that I can't figure this out. What type of job has multiple employees sitting around doing nothing for hours without sending some of you home?

Bad management ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well now it's bothering me that I can't figure this out. What type of job has multiple employees sitting around doing nothing for hours without sending some of you home?

Firefighters?

[Anonymous]

There are actual workplaces where this type of conversations occur?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are actual workplaces where this type of conversations occur?

This sounds so much like overnight shift conversations.