How much "work" do you actually do while you're at work?

[EnviroBat]

I ask this because I'm in the midst of an ethical dilemma. I'm finishing up the last couple of weeks of my contract here, and I'm literally doing nothing but participating on DU. It's has been this way for awhile now. Our project went to production last Friday, and there's literally nothing to do. I hate just sitting here billing them for time, but my boss is out this week, and I'm not being asked for anything. I've even volunteered to train people for when I'm gone, so they can keep the momentum going with the next project. I've accepted another position with a major university, and I'm just playing out my last few days here. Should I feel guilty? I wish I could take a nap...

[trackfan]

1. I have about 2 - 5 days per month of actual work.

I just look busy the rest of the time.

[EnviroBat]

3. See? That's what I mean...

Somtimes I don't feel worthy of a paycheck. I really think I should be working for myself...

[Adsos Letter]

2. No...no guilt...although your work ethic is laudable.

You have fulfilled the terms of your contract, yes? You have volunteered to do more and they are unresponsive to it. If you were the Boss, perhaps, but you are not.

It is your solid work ethic that is at play here...but you aren't free, in this instance, to assign work to yourself.

Unless you are concerned that the charges will be disputed later, I wouldn't worry about it.

And, :toast: to a good conscience.

:D

[EnviroBat]

4. thanks adsos, that helps...

[Adsos Letter]

5. ...and...to answer the other part of your question...

When I was in the workforce (Construction...now retired) I pretty-much worked my butt off most of the time; but that was a different situation, I think, from what you are describing. When we finished a contract it was on to something else.

Now, if you were an independant contractor operating on a T&M basis, and fraudulently racking up hours for services not rendered, that would be different...

[RoyGBiv]

6. In a given week ...

I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work.

[Heidi]

7. Tons.

I start answering my work-related phone/emails/SMS at 6:30 a.m. and stop answering at 6 p.m. and all of these interrupt my actual work far more frequently than I'd like.

Guilt is a moralizing thing and I don't believe in it. Do the right and ethical thing and you won't have to deal with (much) guilt. (And the ethical thing, in my opinion, is to give your current employers what they're paying you for, but probably not as much as you would if you were still interested in whatever over achievement with that employer might afford.)

:hi:

[anarch]

8. for some reason this reminds me of this conversation:

person 1: "so, how many people work in your office?"

person 2: "oh, about half."

[Zavulon]

9. Why feel guilty?

You've done everything you've been asked to do and volunteered to do more. You have no more reason to feel guilty about this than you would about pulling a kitten out of a housefire.