Don't feel job secure

gabriel1980

Had a growing unease about my work situation recently. I work full-time in customer service at a fulfilment company who do work on behalf of a major cosmetic company. Been in current position for a little over 6 months and with company for just over a year. Got a permanent contract and recently a significant pay raise due to a change in position.


The problem is that myself and my colleague have literally no work to do. We have to man the phones and answer emails, but the calls are few and far between and the emails literally take a few minutes each. It's very hard to look busy all the time. My colleague sits and reads a book most of the day while I try and look busy but eventually just potter around on the Internet. This is day in, day out. More work is promised, but it never seems to materialise. Everyone knows we're not busy, including our direct boss.


Just heard that there's a rumour that one of us is being laid off, even though our company is being paid to have two people manning the phones. I guess I'm just worried about how long this can continue, with me being paid well for doing practically nothing!


I've always felt insecure in jobs and am terrified of being unemployed again.

skintpaul

Ask mangers for other things to do? show more willing, than the other person!

xapprenticex

Yep, try to find things beyond job description.

mustang121

I agree with the others.


If another department is completely swamped with work then it seems wasteful of your time for you to be sat instead of sharing the workload. You might even learn new skills in the process to help with future progression.

[Deleted User]

I can feel your pain OP - we get 1 or 2 contacts per shift so we literally have no excuse for poor service, it's got to be soul destroying paying someone 7 hours and not getting the customers, all I can think in these situations is that they may ask you to change your working hours if it hasn't been considered already


I've thought about them mindfulness colouring books for adults (!) as the only solution to being on the internet throughout shift and preparing for it not to work out if it doesn't pick up.

See the books a lot in tesco!

dawyldthing

I'd be careful being on the Internet incase it's in your contract not to be. I'd second finding things to do to occupy your time or magazines, adult colouring books, a study book or something?

stepkelin

I you feel unsecured at your job developed your skill as more as you can if you have a work experiences and skills then don't worry there are many company that are more and more job for you.

tomtontom

stepkelin wrote: »

I you feel unsecured at your job developed your skill as more as you can if you have a work experiences and skills then don't worry there are many company that are more and more job for you.

Yes, find productive ways to use your time. In stepkelin's case that might be improving their English skills