How to be a good employee without being taken advantage off?

no_debts_no_more

This may not work everywhere, as not everyone appreciates workers with initiative.

4) Find something that no-one's doing, and do it.

You could look for some area where things are a bit inadequate, and improve them. Think of something that management could do with having, and get it for them. In other words, expand your own responsibilities by the back door. It may take some time to find what to do here, as no-one is going to tell you what it is. Experience working in other environments works well here.

5) When you get assigned to help someone, try and get yourself assigned to help someone with a better job than yours. Then when they go on holiday, you're all set. Or help someone who's role will allow you to gain new skills or improve your knowledge of how the overall business works.

6) Do some self-training whilst on the job. Doesn't have to be textbooks on the desk - just "looking into" other areas that your duties bring you into contact with. Try to gain new skills and increase that domain knowledge and that will help you move on.


Sounds like you're a go-getter in an office full of laggards. You need to use initiative to benefit yourself, and not create a moral-hazard for sluggish workers to slack off further.

sharkie

Slugger09, I am in a similar position and recently learned the hard way. I have just lost myself approx £20000, £1000 a year increase, lost out on training, and to top it off could possibly go a step back in my career.

My colleague refused to partake in a certain role which I once covered, so kept covering, as it was a necessity for the company. However, this has typecast me.

I will find out next week what is happening, but my way out is get some extra quals and leave.

I have learned I should have delegated the problems back, rather than take them on. Also first you should sniff the hand that feeds you, with the intent to bite it off if you must.

Jerryjerryjerry

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Sometimes there are extra things you can find to do which are your job.

Once, I re-punched all the holes in the documents in a Lever Arch file so that the pages lined up nicely. I had to put re-inforcing rings round some of the holes. These documents weren't required very often (if ever), so it was fairly pointless, but better than doing nothing.

Oh my god. This sounds soooooooooooooooo boring and pointless.. I think i'd rather be helping out someone else than punching holes in a ream of paperwork!

maryke

Are we talking about the public sector? If so, this kind of behaviour will likely not get you promoted since you are a good asset exactly where you are.
Instead of realizing how much more you can do, a process which involves thinking, they will probably just be glad everything is ticking properly and hope you stay with them forever.

If that's the case why not just tone it down? work slower, get real good at soduko or something. Maybe take the extra time to find a job where you're appreciated for being a quality employee.

sharkie

Maryke, in my case very public sector. Also some of our 'unsupervised rooms' have multiple (approx 8) cameras in them. The other single area cameras often have night vision too. - no I'm not joking although it is april 1st.

maryke

You must be very grateful that they are going to so much trouble just to keep you safe

Savvy_Sue

Jerryjerryjerry wrote: »

Oh my god. This sounds soooooooooooooooo boring and pointless.. I think i'd rather be helping out someone else than punching holes in a ream of paperwork!

:rotfl: oh don't worry, I offered to help out!

Two of us were taken on because there were plans to computerise something (in the days when computers were twice the size of an American fridge and kept in a special room which was the only one with aircon, with dedicated Operators to look after them). Unfortunately the boss was always too busy to make progress with this project, so we both lasted about 9 months before moving on ...

But you can learn something from any job, however dire. I learned a very important lesson for a young driver: Never Argue With A Bin Lorry. The Bin Lorry Will Always Win.

Yes, it was accident reports filed by bin lorry drivers I re-filed. It's astonishing how much damage you can do with one of them, without even realising something was in the way! :rotfl:

meluvnext

I have been there and done that, been the hard worker, prepared to learn other peoples jobs to help them out if they are on the sick or on holiday so the office ran smoothly, while others sit on facebook all day! If I choose to work I do my job well, dont see the point in facebook and internet shopping when I can do it at home!

Sambucus_Nigra

Have you sat down with your boss and discussed this?

Usually the only way to resolve it is to take your multiskilled self off to someone who appreciates it.

gettingready

Slugger - sorry, you did not mention what is the nature of your job?
Posters are assuming it is an office job, is it?
Can not see you mention it anywhere?