Passing the time on the notice period - what to do?

[funkyrobot]

I'm currently working the last week of my notice period and am due to leave the current company on Friday. Thing is, I have absolutely nothing to do, I'm really, really bored and I cannot understand why I even have to be here.

As I'm so bored, I'm wondering what to do to pass the time. I know this is naughty, but I was thinking of calling in sick for a few days, just to help. Other than that, I'm spending a lot of time on the internet.

Anything else I can get up to?

As mentioned above, I have absolutely nothing to do. Nothing to hand over to anyone, no projects to pass on. I'm not properly trained, so can't do the day to day stuff anyway.

My manager (who the team have a grievance with) keeps asking me what I'm doing today. I would like to tell him nothing, but end up saying stuff like tying up loose ends, blah, blah, blah. Maybe I should forward the vids I have of him asleep at his desk to the MD?

This week is going to drrrraaagggg!

Anyone else got up to much during their notice period?

[funkyrobot]

MKnight702 said:

People dream about having nothing to do at work. The reality is that days drag by and it's really boring. I've been in a temp role where I was busy for about 5 days per month, the rest I tried to fill as effectively as I could, but it was very difficult.

It's one of the reasons I'm leaving. Well, that and the mental health issues being caused by a company that lets a terrible manager do as he pleases.

Some would think doing nothing all day is great. However, when you have possess a brain that needs to be kept busy, you sort of rot away a bit.

[funkyrobot]

C0ffin D0dger said:

You're getting paid, if they can't find anything productive for you to do then don't sweat it, their loss. Just do what you can to leave on a good note, you might be calling on them for a reference in future so no point pissing anyone off.

It's funny how it works one way, isn't it.

I've had about ten months of a manager who is a bully (well, he has tried to bully me), is absolutely useless at what he does, is extremely disorganised, falls asleep in the office (constantly), breaks everything he touches (IT systems), is a compulsive liar and brings down the morale of everyone he speaks to.

Yet, despite the company doing nothing about him (even though we have a team grievance with him, plus multiple complain meetings), and it getting so bad I'm leaving, I still need to be nice to him to get a reference.

I know it's the way it is, but it baffles me that I have to be so nice, yet he can carry on being a proper moron.

[funkyrobot]

CAPP0 said:

How about searching the internet to find something like a big forum which originates from a subject which you enjoy and are interested in, but also has other boards for discussing other matters?

I've struggled to find much about Latvian wife carrying in this country.

[funkyrobot]

brrapp said:

I know a guy who spent his full month's notice period writing a fantasy sex novel using his co-workers as subject material. He basically wrote a diary of all the daily goings on in the office around him and threw in a lot of imagination. He zz'ed the full publication to everyone in the organisation along with a polite goodbye note on his last day. It caused a fair bit of embarrassment/ribbing/hilarity for months afterwards.
I don't know how he managed to keep a straight face as he sat watching and writing about the people around him for weeks.

That is great.

[funkyrobot]

hast2 said:

elanfan said:

Or....if you want to watch the st hit the fan sign up to a new gmail account and send the videos to everyone including the immediate boss aswell as his boss. Might make the week pass quicker.

Ha ha - yes do this.

Of course the automatic assumption is that everyone will think it's you, having nothing to lose because you're leaving. So as soon as the email hits your work inbox start shouting your innocence and accuse someone else of sending it and trying to set you up. Or better still, set up the gmail account in the name of a workmate

And remember to keep us updated.

It's a nice idea, but I doubt it will achieve much. His boss is fully aware of the issue (as we have had a grievance running that his boss is involved in) and I don't think anyone cares. We even have the HR director involved. She is fully aware of the issue too. Yet, it's carried on as if nothing has changed.

I only have four days now. I've asked a colleague if he wants any help, but he has said no thanks. He said just go off sick.

It's very hard to keep smiling though because of the way the last 10 months have gone. My manager has been an utter bd to me (hence why he was overjoyed the other day that I may need to work a 3 month notice and lose the opportunity to start my new job). If anything, I just want out, now.

[funkyrobot]

Thanks.

It's not usually in my nature to be like this at all. I'm just so fed up with the current job, I just want to be out of here now. The new company have been in touch again asking if I can bring my start date forward. I've moved it to a week on Friday. I do want a little bit of time off with my family in-between, hence why I've said Friday.

The last company I left put me straight on gardening leave. I don't know why the current company hasn't. I have administrator rights to everything. They haven't even reduced my access. I'm not going to do anything, but if the roles were reversed I wouldn't take that risk.

As mentioned on my other thread, the job I do is pretty much non existent anyway. I have nothing to hand over, nothing to pass on to anyone else as I'm not even trained properly.

I think I'll write a story.

Oh yes, the company recently made around 25 people redundant. They were out of the door pretty much straight away.

[funkyrobot]

sc0tt said:

I have some new 2012 boxes I need to build. You can come and give me a hand cloning.

Where are you based?

[funkyrobot]

elanfan said:

If they're stupid enough to leave you with admin rights you could have a little harmless fun. Can you change the boss' email signature to something amusing eg. if he's an analyst to analist or change his emails so they copy the entire address book. When he's asleep send an email from his computer propositioning the HR lady. Gotta be some fun you can have even if you grin in an exagerated inane manner at him every time he looks your way.

By far the best thing I have are the videos of him asleep at his desk. However, I feel it would get me into a lot of trouble if they found their way to the senior management team.

[funkyrobot]

Breadvan72 said:

Joking apart, in life you meet everyone twice, so it is not often a good idea to fall out with people or piss them off. Just mooch about, and part on good terms.

In reality, that is what is happening.

I'm just ticking down the days waiting for the exit.

[funkyrobot]

Exit interview in 5 mins.

I've just been asked to go and do a massive office move on Friday. Really?

[funkyrobot]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Unfortunately, my pc faces out into a large office.

I'm back in today, surprisingly. Had the exit interview yesterday which went pretty much like this:

Dept Head - Ok, why are you leaving?
Me - You know why. My manager.
Dept Head - OK, do you want to expand on that? Don't forget, this is your meeting and everything you tell me helps with our push. [Whatever their 'push' is.]
Me - Not really, you know the reasons why. We've been going over this for months and months.
Dept Head - Yes, well I guessed as much, this is why I'm doing your exit interview and he isn't. In relation to your team grievance, we were going to update you, we just never got round to it.
Me - Thanks for that, most helpful.
Dept Head - Well, we have been working very hard behind the scenes with your manager. Have you noticed any change?
Me - No, non at all. Why do you think I'm leaving?
Dept Head - Ok, well, eerrmm, ok. I'll document that then. Can you rate these questions with 1 being good, 5 being very poor? [hands me a tick sheet].
Me - [ticking 5 in pretty much every box]
Dept Head - Ok. Right. Errm, we need you to do the big commercial office move on Friday. Got to get the most out of you before you leave. [laughs]
Me - Yeah, right.
Dept Head - Ok. Well, you can go now.
Me - Thanks.

And that was that.

I must admit I struggled to come in today, but I have to keep smiling.

[funkyrobot]

DoubleTime said:

funkyrobot said:

It's funny how it works one way, isn't it.

I've had about ten months of a manager who is a bully (well, he has tried to bully me), is absolutely useless at what he does, is extremely disorganised, falls asleep in the office (constantly), breaks everything he touches (IT systems), is a compulsive liar and brings down the morale of everyone he speaks to.

Yet, despite the company doing nothing about him (even though we have a team grievance with him, plus multiple complain meetings), and it getting so bad I'm leaving, I still need to be nice to him to get a reference.

I know it's the way it is, but it baffles me that I have to be so nice, yet he can carry on being a proper moron.

Hmmmm, you sure about that? Most companies that have an HR department use it for references. Most references contain something along the lines of Mr. X worked in X company from X of the X 1990 - 2017

I don't need to be so nice then?

[funkyrobot]

OpulentBob said:

funkyrobot said:

MKnight702 said:

People dream about having nothing to do at work. The reality is that days drag by and it's really boring. I've been in a temp role where I was busy for about 5 days per month, the rest I tried to fill as effectively as I could, but it was very difficult.

It's one of the reasons I'm leaving. Well, that and the mental health issues being caused by a company that lets a terrible manager do as he pleases.

Some would think doing nothing all day is great. However, when you have possess a brain that needs to be kept busy, you sort of rot away a bit.

Point proven; your week of lethargy is starting to have an effect!

[funkyrobot]

johnwilliams77 said:

funkyrobot said:

I don't need to be so nice then?

No.
Do something funny. Please.

Well, my boss is being pestered by some ppi and injury lawyers now. I'm also due to avoid attending our weekly team meeting at 12. That may cause a st storm.

Apart from that, there isn't a lot I can do. My login to the admin part of the systems is done under my name, so if I log on to his email account and change things, they will know it's me. They will also be expecting me to do things.

Pretty boring really. Sorry.

[funkyrobot]

brrapp said:

funkyrobot said:

My login to the admin part of the systems is done under my name, so if I log on to his email account and change things, they will know it's me

Can't you create a new login for a fictitious person? Then logout and back in as the other person? Give him a very similar name to your boss? Then after you've left and your login has been removed you've still got an opportunity to cause mischief.

To be fair, I can't be bothered with all of that after today. They will know who it is and it's far too obvious. Also, I only have access to certain parts of the systems as I haven't been fully inducted into the IT dept here yet.

The best thing I can do is send over the vids of him asleep to senior management when they have forgotten about me leaving.

I'm in the mood to ignore the meeting at 12. That should cause him to melt down anyway. That just may be enough.

[funkyrobot]

Breadvan72 said:

You are to some extent hostage to the reference, even though it may be a bland reference. The company is daft to ask you to take on an important task on your last day, but it sounds like a daft company.

Indeed. It's a stupid company.

I've decided I'm going to be ill tomorrow anyway (as my boss works from home and my colleague is on holiday). If they get arsey and take the day's pay off me, it's only that day. Was really tempted to go sick today, but didn't see the point in losing two day's pay. I'm due half a day's holiday anyway. If I'm off tomorrow and they take the day off me, I'll only lose half a day.

Such a shame that things turn out like this. I'm at the end of my tether though.

[funkyrobot]

elanfan said:

FR we need closure - wotappen?

I called in sick for my last Friday. I was actually sick. Still getting over it now. It pretty much ruined my week off.

I went to the site about 6:45am, handed my laptop etc to security, and headed off into the sunrise. That was it really. No goodbye's. No messages or anything from my old manager or the head of department. Nothing.

It went pretty much as expected.