How much of your time at work is spent actually working?
If your answer is "not much", is there more you could be doing, or are you simply underutilized?
Personally, I've done about six hours of work this week. The rest was spent in meetings I could have skipped, or surfing the net. I even told my boss I've got nothing to do, and she said she'd get back to me. That was Tuesday. I tried to get started on my "upcoming" projects, but I don't have enough details to actually do much about them.
Not to say it's like this all the time; I work at a college, and the last two and first two weeks of every semester are a nightmare. But that's it; four weeks of hard work, followed by three months of farting around on Digg all day.
So, yeah. I heart my job. :)
How's yours? Do you waste time, or are you drowning in assignments? Inquiring Spuds wants to know.
It depends. Some days I'm swamped with having to do repairs, and then there are days (too many, as of late) where there aren't any customers and I can practically spend the whole day stoned :lol:
Back when I still worked as a research assistant/resident computer tech in a local university's neurocognition lab, I pretty much paced myself depending on who I was working with at the time. Given my druthers, I'd spend most of my time tooling around with equipment and maintaining the lab's machines, I really didn't enjoy the number-crunching and analysis side of things. Oh, and I showed up on my last day of work roaring drunk :lol:
Psh. I go to high school. My job is to BS my way through everything.
When I'm on a job we work 12 hours a day for 7 days a week until it's finished.
Of course most of that is just throwing scrap iron around, and that gets old quick.
Most of my down time is spent doing chores around the house. Never enough time to play.
I'm currently recovering (still) from my accident back in December. So I've got me some time off......play time!!! :thumbup:
As a teacher, I work even when I'm not at work.
Quote from: Gremlin on February 14, 2008, 03:09:55 PM
Psh. I go to high school. My job is to BS my way through everything.
Same here, though being a "smart" kid I tend to get done real early and then spend the rest of the period contradicting the teacher. :D
Quote from: Tortuga on February 14, 2008, 05:51:05 PM
As a teacher, I work even when I'm not at work.
Or, put another way, if teaching is a form of play, teachers play hard all the time.
ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Fop o' th' Morning
Quote from: ow_tiobe_sb on February 14, 2008, 06:26:01 PM
Or, put another way, if teaching is a form of play, teachers play hard all the time.
But... what if it's not? :blink:
Quote from: captainspud on February 14, 2008, 06:27:13 PM
But... what if it's not? :blink:
Then it's little better than unskilled labour:
The children learn to cipher and to sing,
To study reading-books and histories,
To cut and sew, be neat in everything
In the best modern way...
ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Fop o' th' Morning
Quote from: ow_tiobe_sb on February 14, 2008, 06:32:24 PM
Quote from: captainspud on February 14, 2008, 06:27:13 PM
But... what if it's not? :blink:
Then it's little better than unskilled labour:
The children learn to cipher and to sing,
To study reading-books and histories,
To cut and sew, be neat in everything
In the best modern way...
ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Fop o' th' Morning
But...what if it
isn't better then unskilled labor? :blink:
I'm basically a mannequin that stands behind a cash register. I'm rarely busy.
I worked at CVS/Pharmacy for a year, and I'm coming up on my one year at Sav-On Drugs in March.
Spud, how is your on-campus job overall? I am going to apply for one when I transfer in the Fall.
Quote from: vamp on February 14, 2008, 06:18:34 PM
Quote from: Gremlin on February 14, 2008, 03:09:55 PM
Psh. I go to high school. My job is to BS my way through everything.
Same here, though being a "smart" kid I tend to get done real early and then spend the rest of the period contradicting the teacher. :D
Or hooking all the lab batteries to your tongue with alligator clips! Woo!
I work nonstop at Wal Mart Distribution. My job is to pick up crates or boxes (or 50-lb potato bags) of meat and vegatables, and stack them on a pallet while constantly stepping on and off the powered jacks I ride on. I generally move somewhere around 2000 cases each day I do this (some days I get put on wrap which involves driving the palletes into a machine and running around them in a circle with plastic wrap), which is four days a week from 3:30 to around midnight or later on fridays and around holidays. This is right after I the first part of every day at school running from one end of the campus to the next because my linear algebra teacher talks about linux drivers for cameras he writes and then lectures late. I would get wrote up if I didn't make 95% production, but that's not a problem because after a year working there, I can make my full incentive every day (130%) or higher if I'm ready to go home or feel like showing off. Anyway, you might think that would make you strong, but it works out the lower vertabrae more than anything to where you get that crunchy feeling and have trouble moving the next day. I didn't want to become paralyzed so I transferred and yesterday was my last day. Now I get to push a cart around and print out labels. Woohoo!
To sum up that last paragraph: Yes.
This time of year is slow and we try and make busy work (compiling lists, updating maps, etc.). Once the construction season kicks off, we are busy most of the day.
Construction Inspection - I may not look busy in the field, but my role as the inspector on site is to observe, record and report. In other words, stand around and watch other people work. The level of my focus is dictated by the complexity of the task being undertaken at that time. It can be tedious watching other people work, especially when the contractor dismisses your suggestions and is determined to struggle with their task. That's when I feel like I'm not doing much.
Surveying - I always feel busy when on survey projects. There really is no downtime for me when surveying. The rest of the crew may have downtime when I need to calculate something or determine the best method to attack our task. Most of the time, the work itself feels like a school recess or field trip.
Ah! Now here is a fun topic. I work a number of odd jobs, but the big money maker is semi-skilled labor on road shows. I generally work on electrics crew, which means I spend my morning (8am to Noon) hanging 25 lb. lights and running large gauge cable. Sometimes this goes on until after lunch. Usually we get cut for a few hours in the afternoon and return for show call. Depending on the show, responsibilities range from running a spotlight to flipping circuit breakers. Hell, I've had to military crawl to center stage to run FX from that position. After the show, everything gets loaded out. So all those heavy lights, all that heavy cable, gets shoved into boxes, shoved up the ramp and shoved into place.
So, like BWPS, yes I work at work.
Quote from: BWPS on February 14, 2008, 09:06:51 PMMy job is to pick up crates or boxes (or 50-lb potato bags) of meat and vegatables, and stack them on a pallet while constantly stepping on and off the powered jacks I ride on. I generally move somewhere around 2000 cases each day I do this (some days I get put on wrap which involves driving the palletes into a machine and running around them in a circle with plastic wrap), which is four days a week from 3:30 to around midnight or later on fridays and around holidays.
Man, that brings back some awful memories. I used to work at a warehouse/distribution center, too, and the work was pretty tough on my lower back. For the few months that I worked there, I'd go home every night and fall asleep/pass out from painkillers soaking in the bathtub trying to work the kinks out of my spine. My first day at work and I swear, three guys went down because of a
ss-cramps (all that bending down and lifting)... I didn't even know you could get a cramp down there until I saw it with my own eyes.
It didn't help that I was probably the smallest guy working there (I'm about 5'5", 130 lbs.)... I actually lasted a couple of weeks longer than the average worker (that place rode us like horses for a little over minimum wage). The quitting rate was so high that they held Employee Appreciation Day every two weeks (the boss and his wife would grill hotdogs for everybody... too bad I was vegetarian :lol:).
The funny thing was that a couple of months working there and people would still assume I worked for the accounting department (because of my slight frame, glasses, ostensibly Asian appearance).
I cook about 6 portions of 4 different meals a day, make salads, keep machines filled, wash up, and sit on my arse alot
Yeah i actually work alot, packing small parts all day is making me so tired im thinking about quiting after the the upcoming week. I cant really sit around to much as theres always something to do, everyone whos free gets a new assignment in 1 minute
I'm the reigning Rock Scissors Paper Champion, I had to give up the thumb-wrestling belt though... also I spend my time varying the phrase "The quick red fox jumps over the lazy brown dog" for Hangman.
I did have a solid victory in class the other day, having to define defiance to fifth graders: "Your mom says, 'Go to your room! You must study!' You say, 'NOOOO!' That, children, is defiance."
I work in the office service/mailroom department at my job, soooo nope I does nothing!
I :wub: my job too!!!!!
I worked in the research department of an IT contracting company. I would look for government and private contracts for the company to bid on. This was the early 90s, when the internet was really starting to catch on everywhere. When I first started, they were using old bluescreen text BBSs & I helped the department transition into the internet age. Not an easy thing when dealing with old sales guys who previously did everything by phone. It was great though, being productive and independant after spending almost two years dealing with the first few multiple sclerosis exacerbations, not knowing what the future would hold or what I'd be physically able to do. Unfortunately, over the years my situation deteriorated to the point I couldn't work full-time anymore. At that point, I took a flex-time job for a very small work rehabilitation company. I was basically an office manager, handling everything computerized, from paychecks/business taxes to recordkeeping to proofreading the reports to insurance companies. Then I lost the ability to drive (peripheral vision got wacky and trouble with 'vision memory' after turning my head) and did medical transcription from home. Finally I faced facts and applied for (and got on) permanent disability.
So now I play City of Heroes. :P
I work at a music store, but don't let that fool you. I spend all day checking in merchandise, processing traded- in CDs and DVDs (about 100- 125 a day), re- arranging various racks, dealing with customers, catching shoplifters (a lot), and janiterial stuff. Keeps me pretty busy all day.
But I get to jam out to good music and talk about movies all day, so I think it's a fair trade.
Quote from: Tortuga on February 14, 2008, 05:51:05 PM
As a teacher, I work even when I'm not at work.
As a school administrator, I'll echo that sentiment. ;)
as a carpet cleaner, My day is spent either moving furniture, placing styrofoam or plastic tabs under the furniture (to protect it from damp carpet) and running the hoses from the truck into the building and putting them back again. At least, on those days that I'm not the one behind the wand doing the cleaning. So, I tend to work my butt off most days.
That said, there are times where there is a good amount of time between jobs, sometimes as much as an hour, so in a 10 hour day, there is frequently only about 5-6 hours of actual work, but that work is pretty hectic.
But I seem to enjoy it.
I work as a secretary. I work fairly hard, most days but because as good secretary is as invisible as a good butler, people assume my department works a lot less than it actually does.
On more than one occasion over the last couple of months we were able to finish up what work there was an hour or so before my shift was over. Because two out of the four secretaries were unwilling to "look busy" by doing stuff that is nowhere in my job description (i.e. dusting, cleaning cabinets with soap and water, etc) and instead went online(and the third secretary has a medical excuse for not doing so), the amount of work dumped on my department has doubled. "Well, if you have time to go online, you must not be busy enough", ignoring the fact that we were online for maybe 30 minutes to an hour, and you've just dumped 4 hours worth of work on us.
As a university teacher and a journalist, my time is largely my own. I have considerable work to do, but I can do it when and where I like. And like all writers, I can actually "work" while strolling to the office. In fact, many writers will tell you that their best stuff is produced when part of their mind is occupied by some unrelated simple physical activity.
Do I work at work? I work at Toys R Us. So yeah. I'm one of the back of house people, so theres always junk for me to do. Luckily most of it involves me being in the back, so no customers! yay!
Wow @ Spud. Hey Tater-man, need an assistant? :D
As a warehouse manager, I work hard all the time. Mostly because I have ambition to get more out of this job and the only way to get that is make the company more $$$ so they can afford to pay me my worth.
I have 5 to 15 people under me depending on the jobs at hand. I work 9 hours a day as well as pick up my daughter from school on my lunch break and some times weekends, the joys of being on salary :huh:
uhmm considering my job is to get good grades on law school... yeah... i do work hard and harder at home, and i usually finish the year with mountains of stress... anyway right now on summer vacation and well rested for the upcoming year.
And Tortuga... my dad is a teacher so yeah... i know you tend to work 2 or 3 times more at home
Quote from: Bujin on February 15, 2008, 10:11:47 AM
Quote from: Tortuga on February 14, 2008, 05:51:05 PM
As a teacher, I work even when I'm not at work.
As a school administrator, I'll echo that sentiment. ;)
I'll third that. Plus I like what I do and I do what I like (Wonder what Churchill would say). Teaching also has some very nice vacation benefits. I just got back to work from 20 days paid vacation...Rats are cool with me!
i work at Kroger, stock shelves for 4 hours a day. School 8 hours a day. I usually keep pretty busy, but most the time it's 2 people to an aisle (it's a tiny 6 isle store) so i B S with someone the whole time. Usually talk about WoW, check out the hot lady customers as they come through the store :wub:
journalist. It varies wildly.
Quote from: thalaw2 on February 21, 2008, 08:39:23 PM
Quote from: Bujin on February 15, 2008, 10:11:47 AM
Quote from: Tortuga on February 14, 2008, 05:51:05 PM
As a teacher, I work even when I'm not at work.
As a school administrator, I'll echo that sentiment. ;)
I'll third that. Plus I like what I do and I do what I like (Wonder what Churchill would say). Teaching also has some very nice vacation benefits. I just got back to work from 20 days paid vacation...Rats are cool with me!
I'll fourth! Teaching is relentless; even if you are overwhelmed with the need to escape your job, your job will come find you anyway. The good teacher will also rely upon the quality of his or her own learning, practice, and prep for the greatest amount of job satisfaction. So, yes, it is the work at work and the work when not at work that make the job. I do treasure my scheduled moments of break during the school day for the emotional and physical rejuvenation they provide, because it's right back into the melee when those moments are done!
EC
I work at a company that remanufactures laser and ink catridges. I work full time on the laser and most people are surprised we even have enough business to run a store just for that, heh. In fact so far we have three stores in the area. After all how many people do you know that use a computer and don't have a printer? Let alone how many printers most businesses have operating or how about copy machines? Most people usually start putting the pieces of the puzzle together after that point.
Anyways, I do work at work. If there aren't any orders up due within the next couple days there are always walk-ins, shipping orders to other stores and our own orders being faxed/phoned in pretty consistently all day. There is always have something to do. On top of that if you aren't taking care of something like that you start doing catridges from inventory to keep your supply up so you don't constantly run out of more popular catridges.
It is overall a busy job but not terribly difficult or stressful. Though the ink guys wouldn't touch laser for nothing they think it looks to hard (some of em have tried and went back to ink quickly heh), truth be told I find ink filling way to finicky and am so glad I don't do it.