Attitude Adjustment or Something needed.............

[mlm668]

I need some suggestions or maybe just an attitude adjustment.



I have been working at my present job for just over 3 years now.  I love the company and the people I work for.  They've treated me well and have helped me with some personal matters in the past.



My problem now is that I have almost nothing to do at work anymore.  Things were slow for us for a while.  Whenever I would talk to the boss about things, he would say it will get better when so and so job starts.  Well, so and so job has started and everyone in the company has plenty to do except me.  So I talked to the boss again.  He said reorganize things that I could and he would see what he could do.  



Ok, I reorganized.  I cleaned out my filing cabinets, packed up old files, even cleaned out our storage house and threw out some old things so that now when you walk in there you know where to look for certain things and can actually find them without having to move 10 boxes first.  In the meantime, I was given the data entry (hourss worked) portion of payroll to handle.



Data entry of payroll takes me 1/2 a day, one day a week tops.  (We enter all hours on a weekly, no daily, basis.)  I had thought I would be given more, but that was it.  They don't want to take away from the Assistant Controller and hurt her feelings any (the impression I get, anyway).  I found the job duties for one of the gals who had my job before me and she had twice as much to do as I was given when I was hired.  And I could do so much more if given the chance.  



I just don't know what to do.  I sit at my desk miserable all day and my unhappiness shows.  I've asked several times over the past 6 months for more to do and keep getting told to just wait and things will eventually pick up.  I've gone back to school to earn my Associate's Degree, but they won't let me take a classes during the day (I asked to take an early class and then come to work afterwards - it would have made me 2 hours late starting my day) even though we are so slow in the office. I can't afford to just quit, but the past few days I've come real close to doing just that.  And I can feel myself growing more and more resentful every day while I sit there trying to think of something that I can work on and everyone around me is just going at it because they have plenty to work on.



I've started scouting for a new job, but everything I see is either an hour's drive away or the pay is just downright insulting.  I'm trying to get away from reception work but all the ads seem to be looking for just that.



Help!!!!  Can anyone give me a postive workable suggestion.  

[whitesatin]

Have you tried asking your co-workers if there is anything that you can do to help them?  Or tell them that you are available to help them out with anything if they need extra help.  Ask them if they have any little projects that they might be willing to offload onto you.



WS  

[nolalady]

Mlm, I know how it feels when things are slow the day just seems so pass at a snails pace.  Right now I am filing away cancelled checks (in numeric order) - this is my "to do" project when everything else is caught up.



You mentioned that you found the job duties for the person you replaced, so what happened to the duties that were not assigned to you?  Did someone else absorb those duties, maybe you can take them back?



Just a thought... Good Luck and I would keep searching, that perfect job may be just around the corner.



nolalady

[execsec]

I know just how you feel.  I have about 30 mins of work some days and 7 and one-half hours of nothing!  That's why I'm on these forums a lot.  I work for the President and Vice President of a large company but they are gone about 75 to 95% of the time.  I ask around and get as much work as I can from others in different departments but it's still not enough.  I don't want to find another job as I just took this one 4 months ago.  I took this job because the benefits were the same, I made more money and it was 7 miles from my house.  I really wasn't looking to change from my last job, I liked it but it was 30 miles from my house and I had to drive in bumper to bumper traffic at 70 MPH (stressful).  But I had nothing to do there either (worked for the president too).  I know I shouldn't be complaining but I like to be BUSY. I'll take any suggestions too!!!!

[ocblnd]

Now is the time, before things pick up, to make this job what you want it to be.  One post asked what happened to the jobs you were not assigned from the previous list - if they did not get assigned someplace, what has happened, are they things that just got dropped, are they things that could be reactivated?  

The idea of doing a spring, summer or fall cleaning is never a bad idea.      

Asking around if anyone needs help on something is always a way to keep busy and provide you with an opportunity to maybe do something new - or get crosstrained to help someone going on vacation.

And my favorite - use this time to create a job manual, detailing the things you do, how things are done-step by step.  I'm a big believer in putting on paper actaully what is involved in the job so that anyone could walk into my desk and get the job done.  I've written manuals everywhere I have been (and always keep a copy for myself when I leave).

I also become a collector of information - is there a list of all the personnel with phone extensions? - is there a list of restaurants in the area that people like to use for business events? - is there a list of the hotels in the area for out of town guests? - is there a list of where things are in your file cabinets? in the bosses file cabinets?  This may sound like busy work and then someday you will have the answer at your fingertips while everyone else is scrambling.    

Maybe they won't let you take time for a class during the day - are they open to you doing some of your classwork in your downtime?

Find some good reading material to help with an attitude adjustment.  Even reading these boards can make your day! !

AND you never know....someday it might get busy and you will look back on these days.

 

[whitesatin]

Great answer ocblond.  You made a lot of good suggestions. Thanks for sharing!



WS  

[mlm668]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.



To answer the questions about what happened to those duties.......well, as far as I can figure its like this.



When the former Controller (the one who hired me) was hired by the company he came in a made some changes.  A new position was created and most of the duties that the former Admin had like AP processing, AR for equipment rental and processing state estimates were given to the lady who was hired and  is now the Accounting Manager.  Payroll was done by the Office Manager and when she left it was inherited by the Admin.   When that Admin left it went to the Accounting Manager.  That left Subcontract prep, reception duties and a few other things for the Admin.  There was one between me and her but not much changed in that year.  



Now, we have a big project going and an offsite office.  90% of the paperwork I would normally handle for a project is being handled at that office the Project Engineer.  And paperwork on other project was minimal and is done.  



I work for a small company (less than 100 employees) in a small town.  Only one restaurant nearby and that menu there hasn't changed in 30 years.      The food is good though.



I have been asking around the office and offering to help others for 6 months now.  The accounting manager doesn't want me to learn anymore of her job than I already do and refuses any offers of help I make.  The boss is aware of this, but isn't going to take away from her anymore than what he has.  As for others in the office, its pretty much the same thing.  They don't need or want any help.



The Spring cleaning is done and my files are in the best shape ever.  Nothing goes unfiled any longer than it take for someone to put it down - even the Acct. Mgr's paid bills.  The phone/radio list is updated, I retyped our employment application, employee manual and other basic forms months ago.  I occasionally work on homework at the office, but the phone is a distraction and I just don't feel right doing sitting at my desk and reading when everyone else is working away.



I'm just so frustrated.  I love this company, but there is just no work for me.  I used to kill time surfing the net and researching things for work, but since our upgrade in June, we've been without access because the AOL isn't compatible with Win 2000 Server and ISDN is to expensive where we are.  And that only makes the day go that much slower.  There is no telling when we will get it back.



I received my bill for fall classes today and I'm considering reapproaching the boss about a morning class again.  It can't hurt.  



Thanks again for the all the suggestions.  I will be sure to review them again and see if there is something I missed that I haven't already thought of doing.

[countrigal]

If you don't feel right reading homework, what about taking some time to learn or expand your knowledge in software.  Maybe create a database to track correspondence or some such.  Start using the computer as a learning tool and (this must be on my mind for me because I've recommended it more than once) work towards a MOUS certification.



THat's all I can come up with so far....