I don’t have enough work to keep me busy

This week on the Ask a Manager podcast, I talked to a guest who has too much downtime at work. Here’s the letter:

I have never had a job without significant downtime. I make myself available for new assignments and readily volunteer to take on work from stressed colleagues. The problem is that there’s just not more work to do. I work for a local government. My workload is dependent on things outside of my control. Projects have a clear beginning and end. Once they’re done, they’re done.

My workload is similar to that of other colleagues in the same role, although more senior colleagues get more complicated projects that take more time. I’ve been in this role for a year. Our work is cyclical so there are times where I’m fairly busy, but regularly I’m not filling all of my work hours with actual work.

My boss gives me rave reviews and my colleagues know me as a go-to resource if they need help. The work-life balance is great. But I find myself with extra time on my hands pretty regularly. I take decent lunch breaks and often go for a morning walk with coworkers. I read online publications relevant to my field, but that can only take up so much time. I also spend time on my phone, probably too much time.

This has always been the case for me with every job. I have always kept my bosses up to date with my need for more work. One boss didn’t care and said I could do whatever with my extra time which led to me being fired without warning by a higher up for spending too much time online. One boss got mad at me for asking for more to do or trying to take initiative. My current job seems like it might be as good as I can get: a consistent workload with clear deadlines, even if not enough of it.

I feel guilty about spending time browsing the Internet on my phone at work. Should I feel guilty? What should I be doing with my time when there really aren’t additional projects to take on?

The show is 27 minutes long, and you can listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever else you get your podcasts (or here’s the direct RSS feed). Or you can listen right here:

If you’d like to come on the show yourself, email your question to podcast@askamanager.org … or if you don’t want to be on the show but want to hear me answer your question, record it on the show voicemail at 855-426-WORK (855-426-9675).

And if you like the show, please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

You can get a transcript of last week’s episode here.

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• I’m bad at taking feedback
• I’m so burned out at work

I don’t have enough work to keep me busy was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager.

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