What do you do when work is slow?

[Sonya]

Had to run to the nurses office today for a band-aid. She was sitting in her spotless clinic with no kids, on the internet. I know her job gets really busy, especially giving out the Rx meds to the kids, but I'm sure she has down time too.

I used to work in a photo lab. If we had nothing to do we had to clean and organize. (look busy) But sometimes there wasn't anything at all to do but talk.

I can't imagine working a job where you just sat and did nothing for long periods of time. What do you do? Can you bring a book? Do the Powers that Be mind if you surf the internet?

 

[mickeyboat]

I DIS - shhhhhhhh.

Denae

 

[bcvgal]

I teach 16 four year olds-I barely get to breath.

 

[becjlek]

I go out on the plant floor and see if someone could use a hand.

 

[cybrkitn]

I DIS - shhhhhhhh.

Denae

Same here. If not DISing, I'll read a book.

 

[Hedy]

I DIS - shhhhhhhh.

Denae

DIS-I'm in a call center, so as long as I'm up with what I need to do-callbacks, etc, it's ok.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

there's usually something to be done - filing, organizing, etc. But, if I'm completely caught up I'm reading the news online or DISing. There's actually an article in today's newspaper about time wated on the job...and it was happening long before there was internet - back then you read a book or newspaper or picked up the telephone instead of logging on.

 

[Disneyland1084]

If there's nothing to do then I'll clean and organize. But when that's done I dis. For the last two weeks I've been SWAMPED and things have slowed down. Does upper management care if people use internet? They haven't said anything yet!

 

[korbbec]

I Dis. I work a 7 hour day. I usually have about 15 minutes up to 3 hours (on a hard day) of actual work to. Do the powers that be care? yes- I was specifically told not to. I cannot access the internet she has set up here- it is AOL and I do not have an AOL username. DBF set up a stealth account for me that I use. The boss stops in 1-2 times a week. When I see her coming I just back out real quick and say I was playing solitaire- which is allowed. I wish I had more to do, but I just don't.

 

[minnieandme]

I'm on here or reading the news. I basically stay online all day (shhh don't tell anyone) When I have a ton of work, I'll call my cousin. For some reason I get more work done when I'm on the phone

 

[Chicago526]

Doing it right now...

 

[daisyduck123]

1st grade teacher here...
there never is a slow time at work for me.

During my 25-30 min. lunch, I have to:
gulp my food,
make any copies I need (after waiting in line at the copier),
return any phone messages,
get to the bathroom if there's any time left

 

[WDWAurora]

When I sold tickets at an entertainment venue, I could read, play Nintendo DS, or use a computer if one was available. When I was a receptionist there, I played on the net, did crossword puzzles, and cropped pictures for the scrapbook.

Now-I'm a school psychologist (intern-so I do the same work, just don't sign reports) so I rarely have downtime. I do have a job though, where if I finish something and have about 15 minutes before I need to be somewhere, there's not really anything I can do. I play spider solitaire then.

 

[lyzziesmom]

I am online almost all day long. I'm a receptionist, and as much as I ask for more work, I just don't have much to do. I try to spread out the few daily tasks I do have so that they last all day, but mostly I am bored out of my mind. I have only been at this job since November, and I have to keep reminding myself that my last job started out slow too, it takes a while sometimes to get duties transitioned to the front desk. Especially in this particular position, which was vacant and filled by temps for several months, so everything the old receptionist did was given to other people who now don't want to give it back. So... I DIS, I go on CafeMom, I do internet surveys, I read the news & check the weather, I play crossword puzzles, I watch YouTube, I plan my next Disney vacation, I upload and edit pictures of my kids, I email friends and family... whatever I can think of to make the day go by a little faster.

 

[kdibattista]

I get to go home .

I only live a few minutes away from the spa so in between appointments I either run errands or come home.

 

[AuntieM03]

I surf the internet, my manager says as long as work gets done she doesn't care. Of course that's because she is usually on herself

 

[LouDisney]

Play on the internet, same here, as long as work is done and not behind, we can get on the internet during down time.

 

[aprilgail2]

We have a TV and DVD player in our locker room so we can do that, or we crochet, read, talk on the phone...whatever...we have a LOT of down time so we need to entertain ourselves a lot.

 

[Saphire]

Sometimes I envy people who work at a desk and can use their computer or phone when it is slow. Not only am I up on my feet moving all day (physical therapy), we hardly ever have a slow time, just days when I run at an easier pace.

 

[KarenB]

I am a teacher so my day is never slow! I don't even need a chair for my desk because I never get a chance to sit down.

Karen