How to pose this question - work related (1 Viewer)

[TheIronSheik]

So a little backstory: Worked with the current company for almost 3 years. They've taken care of me really well. Given me a promotion and a pay raise even in a bad year for the company. My boss is the best boss I've ever worked for. Not only get along with him, but he appreciates what I can do. People I work with for the most part are great people. Get along with almost everyone. Don't have any enemies. Boss' boss likes me and compliments me on my work a lot.

So, in every job I've ever had prior to this, I've had huge workloads. I worked from the time I got in to the time I left, and a lot of days, even more. It was great because I was always busy. My current job is nothing like that. Very slow paced and I have a lot of non working time. A lot of that is due to what I've been able to accomplish over the past 3 years. I've automated a lot of things, streamlined other things. All of it has led to making my job easier and making the company better.

But I'm bored. I don't enjoy not working. About six months ago, I brought the fact that I had extra time and would love to help out with anything else to my boss. He joked that I shouldn't say things like that. Now, I get what he was saying, but I'm sure there's other things for me to do. My question is, what's the best way to approach him about this. I don't want to threaten to leave or anything crazy like that. I just want to make it known that I could do a lot more. What's the best way to do this without making it sound like I don't do much work? It's important to point out that I still do a lot of work. I just have figured out a way to do it quickly. So it's not like they could get by without me.

What say you?

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

I'd keep my mouth shut.

 

[Parrothead]

get a weatherman gig on the side

 

[TheIronSheik]

I'd keep my mouth shut.

I've tried this. It's not working.

Thing is, every couple of months my boss will tell me that there are some projects coming up that he's going to have me working. But they keep pushing the projects back. It's frustrating. And I feel like I'm dying a slow death caused by boredom.

 

[Plorfu]

Set something on fire or dig a hole in the floor.

 

[Bucky86]

Quit.

 

[Tom Servo]

Try the tactic of "I'd like to expose myself to more aspects of XYZ Company. Can I assist or shadow Jan Smith while she's working on X? I feel like the experience would make me more valuable to you."

 

[Hastur]

Parrothead has the right idea. Start a hobby or side business(consulting?). Something you can easily hide if someone comes into your office.

Maybe start a blog about the general business genre. Do some research about it, as there is lots of money to be made if done right.

 

[El Floppo]

practical jokes.

paging fat nick.

 

[Scoresman]

Do we not entertain you enough here during your downtime?

 

[stbugs]

I'd keep my mouth shut.

I've tried this. It's not working.

Thing is, every couple of months my boss will tell me that there are some projects coming up that he's going to have me working. But they keep pushing the projects back. It's frustrating. And I feel like I'm dying a slow death caused by boredom.

If you have time, why wait? Can you just get started on them? Are there other things you know you could improve or work on?

 

[KCitons]

I'd keep my mouth shut.

I've tried this. It's not working.

Thing is, every couple of months my boss will tell me that there are some projects coming up that he's going to have me working. But they keep pushing the projects back. It's frustrating. And I feel like I'm dying a slow death caused by boredom.

Depending on the size of the company, there is always things that need to be re-evaluated, stream lined, or just plain fixed. The company I work for is celebrating 100 years this year. Every day I add something to the list that needs "fixed"

 

[TheIronSheik]

Do we not entertain you enough here during your downtime?

This site used to. But lately it seems to be mostly political threads or race threads. Those aren't that fun.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I'd keep my mouth shut.

I've tried this. It's not working.

Thing is, every couple of months my boss will tell me that there are some projects coming up that he's going to have me working. But they keep pushing the projects back. It's frustrating. And I feel like I'm dying a slow death caused by boredom.

If you have time, why wait? Can you just get started on them? Are there other things you know you could improve or work on?

No. Actual projects like implementing new hardware or software into our stores.

 

[El Floppo]

I'd keep my mouth shut.

I've tried this. It's not working.

Thing is, every couple of months my boss will tell me that there are some projects coming up that he's going to have me working. But they keep pushing the projects back. It's frustrating. And I feel like I'm dying a slow death caused by boredom.

If you have time, why wait? Can you just get started on them? Are there other things you know you could improve or work on?

No. Actual projects like implementing new hardware or software into our stores.

isn't that where the practical joke part can work?

 

[TheIronSheik]

I'd keep my mouth shut.

I've tried this. It's not working.

Thing is, every couple of months my boss will tell me that there are some projects coming up that he's going to have me working. But they keep pushing the projects back. It's frustrating. And I feel like I'm dying a slow death caused by boredom.

Depending on the size of the company, there is always things that need to be re-evaluated, stream lined, or just plain fixed. The company I work for is celebrating 100 years this year. Every day I add something to the list that needs "fixed"

Only so much I can do. I have literally created thousands of reports showing trends and areas that need attention. I'm like the Sabermetrics guy of our company.

 

[Socrates11]

Start doing cam shows for the ladies

 

[Guest]

LOOK AT ME! I'M AN OVERACHIEVER!

-Sheik's coworkers.

 

[Jaysus]

Just ask if you can work from home, you'll like your job a lot better if you can do it from the sofa while wearing fuzzy bunny slippers. Use the extra time around the house to pick up a useful hobby like woodworking, plumbing or bathtub distilling.

 

[jon_mx]

Clean the toilets in your spare time.

 

[Peak]

Build a GaGa pit in the courtyard and challenge your co-workers!

 

[AAABatteries]

Just ask if you can work from home, you'll like your job a lot better if you can do it from the sofa while wearing fuzzy bunny slippers. Use the extra time around the house to pick up a useful hobby like woodworking, plumbing or bathtub distilling.

 

[Henry Ford]

I'd keep my mouth shut.

I've tried this. It's not working.

Thing is, every couple of months my boss will tell me that there are some projects coming up that he's going to have me working. But they keep pushing the projects back. It's frustrating. And I feel like I'm dying a slow death caused by boredom.

Don't worry, he'll throw all of them on your desk at the same time.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Just ask if you can work from home, you'll like your job a lot better if you can do it from the sofa while wearing fuzzy bunny slippers. Use the extra time around the house to pick up a useful hobby like woodworking, plumbing or bathtub distilling.

That's a no go. Company put out an email about 2 years ago saying that working from home was no longer an option. My boss still lets us work from home sometimes if we need to, or if the weather is bad, but that's it. I will say on those days, I can work for about 45 minutes, then sit back and watch TV the rest of the day with my laptop open on my email. It's glorious.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I'd keep my mouth shut.

I've tried this. It's not working.

Thing is, every couple of months my boss will tell me that there are some projects coming up that he's going to have me working. But they keep pushing the projects back. It's frustrating. And I feel like I'm dying a slow death caused by boredom.

Don't worry, he'll throw all of them on your desk at the same time.

I actually don't have a big problem with that. Like I said, I've worked almost my entire life in fast paced environments with unrealistic deadlines. I kind of thrive in that. Big Oil and Big Wedding seem to be very different in that sense.

 

[Jack White]

Plenty of things you could do:

**further your education in work- or non-work-related subjects. So many online options.

**start working on some ideas for starting your own business. Based on what you've said about your job performance, there must be some value you could bring to a market that wants what you have to offer

**fire off a reply to every timsochet post as it appears (this might require working overtime)

 

[Foosball God]

Wait until somebody is getting a performance award and then get on stage and propose to your boss.

 

[snogger]

I hear you on wanting to be busy at work, helps the day go by..

Not sure of the line of work you are in.... but maybe you can hint to another team/manager about willing to help them out

I've been doing that at my job..

Officially I am part of the Admin team for SharePoint but pure Admin work for me is

So, working with my manager, I have been diversifying myself by becoming more of a Business Analyst to help departments bring business processes into SharePoint. But getting the word out was slow..

One day a manager of one of the Web Development teams asked me if I could help a user make changes to their SharePoint Site as they were too busy to help them..

Told him sure, and feel free to send others my way that want to do similar things inside of SharePoint..

Since then work is building and I'm happier

 

[TheIronSheik]

Plenty of things you could do:

**further your education in work- or non-work-related subjects. So many online options.

**start working on some ideas for starting your own business. Based on what you've said about your job performance, there must be some value you could bring to a market that wants what you have to offer

**fire off a reply to every timsochet post as it appears (this might require working overtime)

I'm more looking for a good way to say to my boss that I'd really like more work. Not trying to find a new job.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I hear you on wanting to be busy at work, helps the day go by..

Not sure of the line of work you are in.... but maybe you can hint to another team/manager about willing to help them out

I've been doing that at my job..

Officially I am part of the Admin team for SharePoint but pure Admin work for me is

So, working with my manager, I have been diversifying myself by becoming more of a Business Analyst to help departments bring business processes into SharePoint. But getting the word out was slow..

One day a manager of one of the Web Development teams asked me if I could help a user make changes to their SharePoint Site as they were too busy to help them..

Told him sure, and feel free to send others my way that want to do similar things inside of SharePoint..

Since then work is building and I'm happier

This would be nice. I had hinted to my boss during my yearly review last year that I'd love to maybe work with another department to learn things that would help all of us, but I don't think I conveyed my thoughts well enough. Or he didn't get the hint.

 

[matttyl]

Or this....

Try the tactic of "I'd like to expose myself to more aspects of XYZ Company. Can I assist or shadow Jan Smith while she's working on X? I feel like the experience would make me more valuable to you."

 

[Jayded]

If you want to go the informal route, ask another department if there are things you can do to help. They'll likely jump at the chance.

If you want to be more formal, ask your boss for the fringe project in the backlog that no one ever seems to get a chance to tackle and pick it up. That or if you've been there for three years you've got to see some places that could use automation improvements that you can just pick up ad-hoc to run with.

 

[glock]

I hear you on wanting to be busy at work, helps the day go by..

Not sure of the line of work you are in.... but maybe you can hint to another team/manager about willing to help them out

I've been doing that at my job..

Officially I am part of the Admin team for SharePoint but pure Admin work for me is

So, working with my manager, I have been diversifying myself by becoming more of a Business Analyst to help departments bring business processes into SharePoint. But getting the word out was slow..

One day a manager of one of the Web Development teams asked me if I could help a user make changes to their SharePoint Site as they were too busy to help them..

Told him sure, and feel free to send others my way that want to do similar things inside of SharePoint..

Since then work is building and I'm happier

This would be nice. I had hinted to my boss during my yearly review last year that I'd love to maybe work with another department to learn things that would help all of us, but I don't think I conveyed my thoughts well enough. Or he didn't get the hint.

I think you need to take over your bosses job.

 

[johnnycakes]

Use the extra time to develop your own skills. Start a graduate degree or something like that. If it will help you advance your career with that employer, they might be happy to let you take time out during the day to do the courses, especially if it's a part-time thing. You can do the homework in the office, too, if you still have extra time. You'll look like a superstar, you'll be advancing your skillset, and it'll take up that extra time.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Use the extra time to develop your own skills. Start a graduate degree or something like that. If it will help you advance your career with that employer, they might be happy to let you take time out during the day to do the courses, especially if it's a part-time thing. You can do the homework in the office, too, if you still have extra time. You'll look like a superstar, you'll be advancing your skillset, and it'll take up that extra time.

I've been doing some learning on my own. But I'm a much better worker than I am a book learner. One of the main reasons I didn't finish college, but instead jumped right into IT.

 

[sublimeone]

Can you do any research? You mentioned implementing new hardward/software... could you create a report that outlines your suggested software and hardware choices along with the savings and efficiency improvements? Maybe outline a plan for a rollout, etc...? You could then present an idea that is fully baked and encourage them to let you head it up.

 

[fdas2]

Just ask if you can work from home, you'll like your job a lot better if you can do it from the sofa while wearing fuzzy bunny slippers. Use the extra time around the house to pick up a useful hobby like woodworking, plumbing or bathtub distilling.

That's a no go. Company put out an email about 2 years ago saying that working from home was no longer an option. My boss still lets us work from home sometimes if we need to, or if the weather is bad, but that's it. I will say on those days, I can work for about 45 minutes, then sit back and watch TV the rest of the day with my laptop open on my email. It's glorious.

Install DirecTV in your office.

Sleep with someone's wife.

 

[Hastur]

If you want to go the informal route, ask another department if there are things you can do to help. They'll likely jump at the chance.

If you want to be more formal, ask your boss for the fringe project in the backlog that no one ever seems to get a chance to tackle and pick it up. That or if you've been there for three years you've got to see some places that could use automation improvements that you can just pick up ad-hoc to run with.

This made me think of something else(thanks Jayded!)

I've read that a lot of CEO's and Presidents of companies have lamented how little time they have to creatively think of solutions to problems the company has or think creatively about new areas the company can expand into. Many higher ups would become very happy and appreciate you much more if you solved some major challenges the company is currently facing.

I know you said you weren't a book learning person, but there is a book that is real easy to read a little at a time. Each chapter(most are just a few pages) is a different way to think creatively:

Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko

 

[Jack White]

Plenty of things you could do:

**further your education in work- or non-work-related subjects. So many online options.

**start working on some ideas for starting your own business. Based on what you've said about your job performance, there must be some value you could bring to a market that wants what you have to offer

**fire off a reply to every timsochet post as it appears (this might require working overtime)

I'm more looking for a good way to say to my boss that I'd really like more work. Not trying to find a new job.

Well, nothing I wrote has anything to do with trying to find a new job.

Sorry I wasted your time.

 

[Jack White]

If you want to go the informal route, ask another department if there are things you can do to help. They'll likely jump at the chance.

If you want to be more formal, ask your boss for the fringe project in the backlog that no one ever seems to get a chance to tackle and pick it up. That or if you've been there for three years you've got to see some places that could use automation improvements that you can just pick up ad-hoc to run with.

This made me think of something else(thanks Jayded!)

I've read that a lot of CEO's and Presidents of companies have lamented how little time they have to creatively think of solutions to problems the company has or think creatively about new areas the company can expand into. Many higher ups would become very happy and appreciate you much more if you solved some major challenges the company is currently facing.

I know you said you weren't a book learning person, but there is a book that is real easy to read a little at a time. Each chapter(most are just a few pages) is a different way to think creatively:

Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko

That's a great book!

 

[Henry Ford]

Plenty of things you could do:

**further your education in work- or non-work-related subjects. So many online options.

**start working on some ideas for starting your own business. Based on what you've said about your job performance, there must be some value you could bring to a market that wants what you have to offer

**fire off a reply to every timsochet post as it appears (this might require working overtime)

I'm more looking for a good way to say to my boss that I'd really like more work. Not trying to find a new job.

Well, nothing I wrote has anything to do with trying to find a new job.

Sorry I wasted your time.

Starting your own business isn't a new job?

 

[belljr]

So you're they guy that comes up with all those awesone graphs and charts the mean nothing to everyone?

 

[squidrope]

Just ask if you can work from home, you'll like your job a lot better if you can do it from the sofa while wearing fuzzy bunny slippers. Use the extra time around the house to pick up a useful hobby like woodworking, plumbing or bathtub distilling.

Might I suggest Small Engine Repair 101?

 

[EYLive]

"Hey Boss, I'm gonna start driving for Uber."

 

[Frostillicus]

So a little backstory: Worked with the current company for almost 3 years. They've taken care of me really well. Given me a promotion and a pay raise even in a bad year for the company. My boss is the best boss I've ever worked for. Not only get along with him, but he appreciates what I can do. People I work with for the most part are great people. Get along with almost everyone. Don't have any enemies. Boss' boss likes me and compliments me on my work a lot.

So, in every job I've ever had prior to this, I've had huge workloads. I worked from the time I got in to the time I left, and a lot of days, even more. It was great because I was always busy. My current job is nothing like that. Very slow paced and I have a lot of non working time. A lot of that is due to what I've been able to accomplish over the past 3 years. I've automated a lot of things, streamlined other things. All of it has led to making my job easier and making the company better.

But I'm bored. I don't enjoy not working. About six months ago, I brought the fact that I had extra time and would love to help out with anything else to my boss. He joked that I shouldn't say things like that. Now, I get what he was saying, but I'm sure there's other things for me to do. My question is, what's the best way to approach him about this. I don't want to threaten to leave or anything crazy like that. I just want to make it known that I could do a lot more. What's the best way to do this without making it sound like I don't do much work? It's important to point out that I still do a lot of work. I just have figured out a way to do it quickly. So it's not like they could get by without me.

What say you?

What. The. ####?

 

[Jack White]

Plenty of things you could do:

**further your education in work- or non-work-related subjects. So many online options.

**start working on some ideas for starting your own business. Based on what you've said about your job performance, there must be some value you could bring to a market that wants what you have to offer

**fire off a reply to every timsochet post as it appears (this might require working overtime)

I'm more looking for a good way to say to my boss that I'd really like more work. Not trying to find a new job.

Well, nothing I wrote has anything to do with trying to find a new job.

Sorry I wasted your time.

Starting your own business isn't a new job?

No, Hank, it is not.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Plenty of things you could do:

**further your education in work- or non-work-related subjects. So many online options.

**start working on some ideas for starting your own business. Based on what you've said about your job performance, there must be some value you could bring to a market that wants what you have to offer

**fire off a reply to every timsochet post as it appears (this might require working overtime)

I'm more looking for a good way to say to my boss that I'd really like more work. Not trying to find a new job.

Well, nothing I wrote has anything to do with trying to find a new job.

Sorry I wasted your time.

Geez. When did you become so sensitive?

 

[eoMMan]

Play around with Excel creating retirement speadsheets, budgets, etc.

Candycrush

Words with friends

Be grateful for what you have now and bank money now for a possible future crappier job that pays less.

 

[eoMMan]

But yeah, if you keep bringing up that you are bored and need more work, you could be canned. Not a good idea. You make your point known to the boss. Let it go. Let it go. Would you bang idina menzel?

 

[spOOfy]

Just ask if you can work from home, you'll like your job a lot better if you can do it from the sofa while wearing fuzzy bunny slippers. Use the extra time around the house to pick up a useful hobby like woodworking, plumbing or bathtub distilling.

Seriously, great posting here.