Curse of the comfortable job

[Sporky]

I had similar on less money a few years back. Out a few times a week to have pointless meetings with customers, occasionally sitting in on training to babysit them, probably more time filling in time sheets creatively than working.

I was pretty sure someone was going to notice that they were paying me quite a lot to do very little so left. They seemed sad about that and said they were very happy with my performance, but I didn't get it.

[Woodrow Wilson]

Sporky said:

I had similar on less money a few years back. Out a few times a week to have pointless meetings with customers, occasionally sitting in on training to babysit them, probably more time filling in time sheets creatively than working.

I was pretty sure someone was going to notice that they were paying me quite a lot to do very little so left. They seemed sad about that and said they were very happy with my performance, but I didn't get it.

Mad, isn't it?

I had asked to do more in my old job, and more of the things I was actually recognised as being good at. It never happened.

When I resigned, various senior people contacted me to encourage me to stay and offered to let me return in the future. No chance.

[deja.vu]

Woodrow Wilson said:

Sporky said:

I had similar on less money a few years back. Out a few times a week to have pointless meetings with customers, occasionally sitting in on training to babysit them, probably more time filling in time sheets creatively than working.

I was pretty sure someone was going to notice that they were paying me quite a lot to do very little so left. They seemed sad about that and said they were very happy with my performance, but I didn't get it.

Mad, isn't it?

I had asked to do more in my old job, and more of the things I was actually recognised as being good at. It never happened.

When I resigned, various senior people contacted me to encourage me to stay and offered to let me return in the future. No chance.

I'm in the same boat.
Had the " Maslow hierarchy of needs" with my boss last week. I've been trying to do more meaningful things but all they care about is me hitting my number.
He struggles to understand that, what motivate him, does't motivate me.


I've never taken my income for granted or felt entitled to it, but I've worked with a great many over the years who truly belive they are worth what they earn ( market rates and all that) but more so, feel they are entitled to it.


I've been waiting to get found out for years or have the gravy train derail, but it just keeps rumbling on.
I'm going to step off it next year, take some time out and find something truly meaningful to do with my time

[Countdown]

For all these roles where people are getting paid megabucks for doing relatively little - are the managers aware of this and happy to let it slide, or just incompetent? Let's be honest, paying somebody for 35 hours when they're only working for 2 or 3 is the height of inefficiency and has a direct impact on profits. Do managers not care?

[deja.vu]

Countdown said:

For all these roles where people are getting paid megabucks for doing relatively little - are the managers aware of this and happy to let it slide, or just incompetent? Let's be honest, paying somebody for 35 hours when they're only working for 2 or 3 is the height of inefficiency and has a direct impact on profits. Do managers not care?

Some of us get paid on results and that's all that matters.

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

deja.vu said:

Countdown said:

For all these roles where people are getting paid megabucks for doing relatively little - are the managers aware of this and happy to let it slide, or just incompetent? Let's be honest, paying somebody for 35 hours when they're only working for 2 or 3 is the height of inefficiency and has a direct impact on profits. Do managers not care?

Some of us get paid on results and that's all that matters.

I suspect that people in this situation are more than capable of talking up their workday and tasks to their line managers. I’d also expect that line managers are aware of the quantity of work but don’t follow it up or talk about it to those above. It’s a silent agreement. I know that you know that I don’t do much for my money etc

[Doofus]

If a manager pays his people lots of money he must be worth even more himself.

Multiple layers of management in large corporates = a lot of people hiding.

[okgo]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

I suspect that people in this situation are more than capable of talking up their workday and tasks to their line managers. I’d also expect that line managers are aware of the quantity of work but don’t follow it up or talk about it to those above. It’s a silent agreement. I know that you know that I don’t do much for my money etc

You can’t talk up the money you’ve brought in the door. You either have or you have not and it’s plain to see.

Every company eventually when you get senior enough has people that are paid on results and their ‘basic salary’ is likely a tiny factor in the overall reward if they’re successful.

[Woodrow Wilson]

Countdown said:

For all these roles where people are getting paid megabucks for doing relatively little - are the managers aware of this and happy to let it slide, or just incompetent? Let's be honest, paying somebody for 35 hours when they're only working for 2 or 3 is the height of inefficiency and has a direct impact on profits. Do managers not care?

Managers don't necessarily want to raise their, and their team's, easy ride?

In organisations that return huge profits, or have complex structures or costs(although banking or IT, unlike industrial production, doesn't have the really big fuel/material bills), a few quid probably isn't noticed. When times are tough, it would change.

There are a lot of full time jobs that allow people to WFH, in which the people don't "work a full week". I've experienced it and know of others. Few in the provinces/outside of PH are paid £150K/year, with 16% rises, though, I suspect.

[jm8403]

Doofus said:

Whenever we have threads like this, I'm always surprised how many PHers know what their friends, neighbours and acquaintances earn.

among the poor wage slave of friends/acquaintances we are all quite open about it as it's just a part of conversation. For the people I know running companies with lots of other investments, I don't go there, it's safe to assume with a few million of cars in garages, they're doing OK!

[jm8403]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

I suspect that people in this situation are more than capable of talking up their workday and tasks to their line managers. I’d also expect that line managers are aware of the quantity of work but don’t follow it up or talk about it to those above. It’s a silent agreement. I know that you know that I don’t do much for my money etc

This. Everyone spends their lives telling everyone how busy they are, how hard things are, managers talk it up to show what their teams have done and never want to reduce their team size (otherwise what are they worth), it all goes quite well. As long as you show up when its needed/extra effort during key deliverables, can talk well, you will usually be OK. Relationships and what comes out of your gob is everything in large corporates rather than actual output. Silent agreement is the best way to put it.

[deja.vu]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

deja.vu said:

Countdown said:

For all these roles where people are getting paid megabucks for doing relatively little - are the managers aware of this and happy to let it slide, or just incompetent? Let's be honest, paying somebody for 35 hours when they're only working for 2 or 3 is the height of inefficiency and has a direct impact on profits. Do managers not care?

Some of us get paid on results and that's all that matters.

I suspect that people in this situation are more than capable of talking up their workday and tasks to their line managers. I’d also expect that line managers are aware of the quantity of work but don’t follow it up or talk about it to those above. It’s a silent agreement. I know that you know that I don’t do much for my money etc

If I work 60 hours a week and at the end of the year did 60% or my goal, the business would be far less impressed than of worked 10 hours a week and did 120%.

I’m in sales, I get paid for the results I deliver not the hours I work.

[Olivera]

jm8403 said:

DB pay PhD coders 80k base at 22 year old before bonus.

They fully deserve the 80k at 22 as they must have started university at 15 (or younger).

[jm8403]

Olivera said:

jm8403 said:

DB pay PhD coders 80k base at 22 year old before bonus.

They fully deserve the 80k at 22 as they must have started university at 15 (or younger).

Nope, you can have a phd by 23. I started uni at 17

[Olivera]

jm8403 said:

Olivera said:

jm8403 said:

DB pay PhD coders 80k base at 22 year old before bonus.

They fully deserve the 80k at 22 as they must have started university at 15 (or younger).

Nope, you can have a phd by 23. I started uni at 17

IIRC the youngest person ever to gain a phd in the UK was 22, but the average age is far higher. Any statistic quoting the pay levels of 22 year old phd coders can be disregarded as nonsense.

[tamore]

GS2 said:

Thanks again.

The point about contracting is a great one and it’s something I’ll definitely look into along with getting fulfilment outside of work.

I agree coasting isn’t ideal but not sure there’s scope to stretch my legs here. I do keep a look out for other roles and I think I could jump into something else somewhere else fairly easily.

I must say it hasn’t always been like this. I’ve been here for many years and when I joined it was a full time role but after hard work, and changes within the company the role has reduced and I think will reduce a little more over the next 3 year.

I think my boss has been fighting my corner. I had a few one to ones with him this year and he really wanted me to stay. He got me a 16% pay increase to try and keep me. Pretty decent I thought considering no change in role.

I‘ve often made my boss look great and after all it’s not his money so I guess that’s why he wouldn’t want me to leave. It’s agro for him and I make his life easier. That said he also shields me from the politics and office BS above so it’s not one way.

The salary is about right for the role but it’s a full time salary when the role is part time. I don’t think they will find many people wanting to do it part time. Also I’m pretty good at it, it would take someone else longer.

I wouldn’t call myself a senior employee but there’s an expectation that if critical they can contact me. Even if I have to say it myself they get great service when they need it.

was similar to this, and it left me dead behind the eyes. despite still having a mortgage due to living it up somewhat, i jacked the corporate world in and opened my own business. had more freedom to do this as we never wanted kids so less financial responsibilities, but it's a lot more fulfilling in my opinion. don't make anything like the money i did, but the business is still alive after 5 years and is starting to be recognised by potential customers.

[jm8403]

Olivera said:

jm8403 said:

Olivera said:

jm8403 said:

DB pay PhD coders 80k base at 22 year old before bonus.

They fully deserve the 80k at 22 as they must have started university at 15 (or younger).

Nope, you can have a phd by 23. I started uni at 17

IIRC the youngest person ever to gain a phd in the UK was 22, but the average age is far higher. Any statistic quoting the pay levels of 22 year old phd coders can be disregarded as nonsense.

ok, they're probably 24 then, happy?

[Olivera]

jm8403 said:

ok, they're probably 24 then, happy?

Possible but highly, highly unlikely. Under 25s gaining a PhD in the US accounts for 0.8% of total recipients.

[Sporky]

I'll bid 25, just because I'm enjoying the back-and-forth.

[Doofus]

Wouldn't you have needed a degree before you started for a PhD?