I HATE my job.

raeble

I started a new job at a large government institution as a member of admin staff last year. It took four days for me to get a password to access the computer network - I have since noticed that ******* passwords turn up before they even start in the department but I won't talk about the double standard.

I have very little work to do, what I do have to do is menial and very little skill is required - photocopying, filing, putting post in pigeon holes etc. I do occassionally book the odd hotel room but that is only about once a month or so. The job description made the job sound semi skilled - it is but the othe new person got most of the skilled work. Most of the time is sat twiddling my thumbs. I complained to family and friends about this and was told that I shouldn't worry about this and read a book or something, I was reluctant to do this.

At first I would ask for something to do, then I would be told I haven't got anything for you to do raeble go and ask such and such. I would receive the same response from the person I was told to ask, so I started emailing one of them asking for work. This person gave me work then eventually told me that one of the others was supposed to be supervising me and I should address my requests to all of them. I started to do this - asking specifically for work for the day - I would get five minutes of photocopying from one of them and perhaps an hour of filing and copying from another, but nothing from the supervisor.

One of them told me that they would be taking some work which takes about a day or so to do from the other admin and give it to me. This hasn't happened a few months later. Even though the other new admin person has also left. I also had a meeting with the line manager who had been talking to the others about my performance - where I was forced to defend some things that I had done wrong some of which were down to lack of explaination on their part - there was a complaint about me reading a book at work - I had to tell the line manager that I had asked for work and I hadn't been given anything what was I expected to do? (Besides if you saw someone you were supposed to be supervising reading a book during work time wouldn't you tell them to stop? I didn't say this because it would have probably come out wrong) We then had a meeting with the supervisor included, where they stated that the communication was going to improve and I was going to be given some finance work.

After the meeting I was told by the supervisor that I would get the finance work after I had some training. Hmm I thought the supervisor had no trouble training the admin person who had now left, and I have several years of experience working in a financial department -why exactly do I need training to do their one invoice and purchase order a week? But I held my tongue and went on the training - I have since discovered that there were instructions in the department on how to use the finance system - which is all I really need to know. I finished my training at the beginning of the month and there has been no sign of this finance work.

I'm thinking I should say something because I am doing two jobs - well I got given all the tasks the other person was doing barring the finance part which wasn't very much really and I am still sitting around twiddling my thumbs for a large portion of the time. After several months I have got tired of asking. I don't see why I should. I'll admit I am also quite shy which doesn't help things - I find it difficult to ask for things face to face, I fell like I am harrassing people to get something to do. I shouldn't be feeling like this.

Whats really upset me is last week I asked the supervisor for something to do - they said oh let me look there is possibly some of this to do, go and ask such and such and I'll get back to you. I went to ask the other person who gave me something to do, and I stretched it out waiting for the supervisor to get back to me but they never did. I've since seen that they have done the work themselves or started doing it. Its only data entry but its better than filing.

I am so emotional since I started this job, I had to go and see the doctor for depression. I stopped taking the pills because they were making me lathargic and lazy. I should leave but I'm thinking maybe they are trying to drive me out - I'm even wondering if they are giving me bad references - I had an internal interview - I have more than enough qualifications and experience to do the job, ok I didn't perform particularly well in the interview but I was the only candidate and I am highly qualified. I didn't get the job, even worse the rejection letter was dated from summer last year. It probably wouldn't have bothered me so much if my rejection letter hadn't have had the wrong date. That really says it all doesn't it.

I should leave but I don't want this hanging over my head unresolved and I can't afford to leave anyway. I really shouldn't have taken this job.

aliasojo

Can't really help with any constructive advice I'm afraid, but I thought I'd just let you know I sympathise. There's nothing worse than being unhappy at work, given that you need to be there every day.

I don't see what else you can do tbh, you've continually pointed out you don't have much to do and asked for more work. Maybe the time has come for you to stop hitting your head off a brick wall and just (grudgingly) accept the way things are. If that means sitting doing nothing, then so be it....perhaps if your supervisor or boss saw this happening frequently, it might make them tackle the situation. At first glance, perhaps seeing you reading a book could be construed as you choosing to slack off rather than working, whereas sitting doing nothing may convey the fact better that you simply have nothing to do. If that makes sense?

There's nothing to stop you from looking around for another job elsewhere in the meantime.

Think positive, I hope it gets better for you.

Annie_SW

Have you tried the Welfare Officer, this is beginning to affect your health, and your health should never be sacrificed for work. You may well also be able to raise a grievance against your manager.

Do you have any proof of your asking for work - eg emails, it is a good idea to have some hard evidence of your actions should you wish to take this further.

I have EVERY sympathy for you, my situation at work has some similarities.

ceegee

This is not constructive help for raeble, I know, it is just an observation. It is the first time in my life that I have heard of someone with not enough work to do! I am not raeble and have never had this experience so perhaps who am I to comment, but boy, it sounds better than being on the verge of a breakdown due to incessant pressure to be always doing more and more. Blimey, not enough work.....

Absolutely no offence intended! :cool:

Poppy9

raeble

I work in Local Govt. and I have heard of this thing happening before. It always starts at the top and filters down. Poorly trained managers failing to delegate. Its a huge problem. The have probably come up through the system like this, they know no different so the situation carries on for years.

There is something you can do though. You can speak to the highest level manager in you section. If you have tried this or feel that they are already aware of the problem and not addressing the situation then forget them and either go to the head of service or contact the Human Resources department. Try not to come over as agressive or bolshy (easier said than done when you are feeling emotional). Take a list of points with you which you feel are the main problem areas. You could at this point also ask your Union for help. They will provide support and advice. A lot of people now are reluctant to join unions but its at times like this that you need their help. Personally I begrudge paying my £100 per year to them but I think of it like an insurance policy.

With regard to your internal interview where you were not appointed. Ask for a meeting with HR to discuss the reasons you were unsucessful. They have to tell you. If they are awkward or unhelpful - tell them you will formally request under the Freedom of Information Act for full disclosure of all information they hold on you relating to this job selection process and also to your full personnel record. You have to be specific in what you are asking for under this act but they have only 20 days to respond.

Midget_Karen

ceegee wrote:

This is not constructive help for raeble, I know, it is just an observation. It is the first time in my life that I have heard of someone with not enough work to do! I am not raeble and have never had this experience so perhaps who am I to comment, but boy, it sounds better than being on the verge of a breakdown due to incessant pressure to be always doing more and more. Blimey, not enough work.....

Absolutely no offence intended! :cool:

I promise that being totally bored out of your brain is as bad as being run off your feet!
During my Gap year before uni i did a "year in industry" through a scheme that matches students to companies for a year. It started badly - after being shown round on the first day by the guy I was taking over from , he said "I won't show you anything else today, as there will be nothing left to show you tomorrow!" (we had a 2 week take over period) and we spent the rest of the day with me watching him play games on the computer.
Even before he'd left I was really bored.
Once he had left it was as awful - I really didn't have anything to do although I asked and it left me bored to tears. Actual tears. I thought "bored to tears" was just a phrase but it's actually true. I'd just phone anyone who was in during the day for a chat , it was awful. And depressing, and when you're so bored during the day you can't pick yourself up to do something in the evening , cos your practially a zombie!!
I was lucky because i complained to the Year in Industry, and they got my placement moved somewhere else, which was much better.

That doesn't really help the OP though, except that I can sympathise and do understand.
How about keeping a record of what tasks you're doing and how long it takes - ie

Filing for Mr A - 1 hour
Photocopying for Miss F - 1/2 hour
Asked W, T,P, S and L for work but none required (and make sure you keep a record of who you have asked)
Total days work 1 1/2 hour

So that you can show your line manager how productive you could be , and that you are really trying to earn your wages! Then suggest that as you have x hours per day spare , perhaps you could take on some more roles......

Also, since you do have time, make sure to be really really careful that you get everything you do right, so no one has an excuse to not give you work.

Let us know how it goes!!

Murtle

Keep notes of all requests for work, and if they reply saying that they have work for you, and then don't give you any...formalise that too.

So if your email reads

I have completed my work for the day and am on the look out for more.....

and there's reads or is verbalised

Give me five minutes and I'll find something for you to do

after five minutes

reply (in writing) I appreciate you are busy, but do you have that work for me yet?

keep writing it, it sounds boring and petty but gives balck and white proof that you have been trying.

Speak to HR as mentioned about the interview you went for.

Unfortunately in these situations quite often the sparkle goes from a person and they may not come across very well in interviews.

For someone who likes to be kept busy, having nothing to do can lead to a nervous breakdown/depression in the same way that being over pressurised can do.

Please do something about it though, even if it means leaving your job as it really can be so detrimental to your health!

littlemisscheap

Well I'm sorry to hear about your situation - but even at a professional level it is a problem.

I am an IT contractor who went perm 1 and 1/2 yrs ago - I spent the first 6 months of this period waiting patiently as told for the project to get going. I should have known then that this was never going to work out for someone who is used to and thrives on delivering on the tightest of deadlines. But being a perm role, I held out (big mistake as skills going out of date instead of being built on further) - then the project started and it was downhill from thereon...

It is embarrassing to explain but I try to suggest that I now recognise that all projects cannot be the same and that there are good things and bad things about every project. Lessons are important to learn from bad projects whilst good practices are what you need to take with you from good projects.

If you are not getting work from your line manager, then usually you can make some work for yourself by say, completely refiling some important files so that everyone can find info quickly and easily, there is space in each file for more papers, everything is clearly labeled, etc. but be wary as some people will never be satisfied and they are the ones that will say 'what a pain you are and complain about you personally instead of resolving your work issue whilst most others like the reorganised file system'.

You must start looking for a new job once you feel it is only a matter of time before you will be forced to quit as it is easier to move from one job to another for most roles.

You mention you are qualified and so maybe you need to look for something more advanced before you feel challenged in any way - perhaps with something at least to do with your qualifications.

Take a look for work in your local area soon - you never know!

Best of all, good luck!

Fran

It sounds to me like you should definitely get out of that job - I personally wouldn't even bother trying to get answers etc. from the present employers, it will be more stress for you. It's no good "feeling emotional" and getting depressed, and if it's down to this job .... get out! I was in a job with nothing to do for 3 months once and it is really awful, I was just left on my own with 2 or 3 letters to type and had to sell tickets (tourist attraction but before Easter) - I remember selling 30 tickets one day. The manager would pop in for half an hour but the rest of the time I had no-one to talk to & nothing to do. I've also been in a job where my supervisor wanted me out, had never wanted me there but wanted someone internally to get the job, and criticized everything I did and put me down. It was never going to work as that person was determined that I shouldn't be there from the start and once you go down the road of meetings & trying to sort things out it just gets worse because then other people are involved too. From what you've said I wouldn't bother with them - it's their incompetence that they don't sort you out with enough work and you could be doing so much more, contributing so much more and feeling better about everything because of it. I hope you find something more satisfying soon.

Nile

Poor Raeble

I sympathise with your work dilemma. I was in a similar situation years ago where I had to do boring repetitive tests in a lab. After a few weeks (which seemed like months) I was interviewed for a better position by the Lab Director. He asked me how I was getting on and I replied, "You could train monkeys to do what I'm doing!" Fortunately, he wasn't offended by my reply and I moved to a better/more challenging position.

If you think that there could be employment opportunities within your organisation..........then sit it out and try to occupy your time while you wait for a job move. If you have access to the internet, what about doing learn direct courses?

If you don't have access to the internet, you could borrow a copy of a typewriting skills book and brush up on your typewriting skills/speed. It's not just administrators and secretaries that need good keyboard skills.........they will help you with almost any job nowadays.

If you don't think that there will be employment opportunites within your organisation.......start buying the local and regional newspapers for the job vacancies and get applying. Don't resign until you have that new job.

Being unhappy at work is a large portion of your daily life. Being unhappy can lead to illness.........be proactive and plan your next move to change things for the better.

Good luck

spotter

Do you use Microsoft Office?

Why not go to your local library and get a some books on Word and Excel. When you've got nothing else to do teach yourself from them.

It shows initiative and will give you some purpose and IT skills. It's got to be better than doing nothing or reading a book.

Good luck.