Have you ever had a job where there’s no work to do? What happened?

[Anonymous]

I’ve been doing this for many years and I love it. I probably have 1-2 hours of work per day. It’s partially because there isn’t a ton to do and partially because I’m very fast when I’m actually working. Full time work from home has been an amazing development for my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started a job earlier this year that I was really excited about. Long story short, I’m about eight months in now and there is very little work to do. At first, I was constantly raising my hand to get additional tasks, but at a certain point this got demoralizing. Now, I do the limited work I do have on my in office days and on my WFH days, study for a certification and apply for other jobs. I’m always available if someone needs help and offer to help when requested, but I can’t just make up work to do.

I’m grateful to have a job, but it’s kind of discouraging and very boring.

Has anyone else had an experience like this, and what ended up happening?

Has an internship like this and thought I would die from boredom. Nothing to do dah after day. A waste of my life and times.

[Anonymous]

The only time this happened to me was when I was about to be laid off. If you don’t have work, that is a big red flag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started a job earlier this year that I was really excited about. Long story short, I’m about eight months in now and there is very little work to do. At first, I was constantly raising my hand to get additional tasks, but at a certain point this got demoralizing. Now, I do the limited work I do have on my in office days and on my WFH days, study for a certification and apply for other jobs. I’m always available if someone needs help and offer to help when requested, but I can’t just make up work to do.

I’m grateful to have a job, but it’s kind of discouraging and very boring.

Has anyone else had an experience like this, and what ended up happening?

Play solitaire. Go for a long lunch.

[Anonymous]

This happened to me and I quit after six weeks. But I was in person, and alone. I wasn’t allowed to read a book or look at my cell phone even though no one who didn’t work at the office could see me. It was so boring to sit for 8 hours a day and have maybe 15 minutes of work.

I was single and young so quitting was a no brainer. If I worked from home I’d probably have milked it more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started a job earlier this year that I was really excited about. Long story short, I’m about eight months in now and there is very little work to do. At first, I was constantly raising my hand to get additional tasks, but at a certain point this got demoralizing. Now, I do the limited work I do have on my in office days and on my WFH days, study for a certification and apply for other jobs. I’m always available if someone needs help and offer to help when requested, but I can’t just make up work to do.

I’m grateful to have a job, but it’s kind of discouraging and very boring.

Has anyone else had an experience like this, and what ended up happening?

I learned new tech skills, completed 30 graduate credits, and became a teacher. There’s never nothing to do now!

[Anonymous]

My federal job turned into this. In the beginning, there was plenty of work and it was very fulfilling. As the years went by, the burecracy snowballed, the meetings grew more frequent and longer, and less and less work was getting done. There was plenty of talk about work, but not much work getting done. Ultimately, I was offered a VERA and took it for this and many other reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happened to me and I quit after six weeks. But I was in person, and alone. I wasn’t allowed to read a book or look at my cell phone even though no one who didn’t work at the office could see me. It was so boring to sit for 8 hours a day and have maybe 15 minutes of work.

I was single and young so quitting was a no brainer. If I worked from home I’d probably have milked it more.

What kind of job was this?

[Anonymous]

yes fed for 20 years. nothing ever to do. finally put out of misery by Trump this year

[Anonymous]

I spent a few years as an admin assistant for TWO departments of a non profit who had NO work for me to do. The SVP had been used to having an assistant in their previous jobs, and "needed" an admin. I worked about 1.5-2hrs per day.

I took EVERY free training class they offered and finally got bored and got another job. I told HR there was no reason for them to replace me, but they did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yes fed for 20 years. nothing ever to do. finally put out of misery by Trump this year

Since you don’t work there anymore, you should have no issue telling us what agency this was, what office, and what job title.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This happened to me and I quit after six weeks. But I was in person, and alone. I wasn’t allowed to read a book or look at my cell phone even though no one who didn’t work at the office could see me. It was so boring to sit for 8 hours a day and have maybe 15 minutes of work.

I was single and young so quitting was a no brainer. If I worked from home I’d probably have milked it more.

What kind of job was this?

I retrieved medical records for patient appointments at a big medical practice. I didn’t even go get the records. At least then I could walk up and down the stairs. I just put in the requests on thr computer and they were sent upstairs by the records department. It was mind numbing.

[Anonymous]

What's skills do you have what does work mean

[Anonymous]

I'm in my 40s and literally every job I've ever had took maybe 1-2 hours per day to get enough work done to satisfy my bosses and consistently score the highest rating on performance reviews.

At this point I'm not sure if I'm smart/efficient and jobs are just designed for the lowest common denominator or if there's a universal unspoken agreement for everyone to pretend like they're busy so as not to spoil things for everyone but neither one would surprise me.

[Anonymous]

Ooh I had a 6 month temp job like this. It was glorious. I read so much, napped at my desk, did my taxes, etc. I would be nervous about layoffs in a full time job, but that was still the best job I've ever had - 15 years ago.