What can I do at work to pass the time?
Posted by Recent-Setting-4551@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 377 comments
I’ve just started a new job, on a reception, where my phone gets locked away at the start of my shift.
After my initial training, I’ve realised there is quite a bit of “down” time. I obviously can’t sit on my phone as I don’t have it and I have very little internet access (apart from BBC etc). Tried to take a book yesterday, but it’s not doable due to people backwards and forwards through my area.
Any suggestion what I can do to make the day go quicker? Yesterday dragged horrendously!
Superb-Ad2048@reddit
Perhaps you could politely ask a manager, what things are permitted at slow times, to keep you stimulated and alert. A good manager, should appreciate the need for you to be stimulated and active.
Superb-Ad2048@reddit
I cut out small pieces of crossword puzzles.
porkpieblake89@reddit
Get a cheap second smartphone with all your socials on and sneak it in
ohyeahofcourse@reddit
I used to write short stories and plan D&D games that I ran for my friends. Open Excel or Word, put some work related text on there in black, then in white or grey font below, start typing your notes. Highlight with mouse to review work. This way if anyone looks over your shoulder they immediately see the work related text and not your goof off story writing. Once done I'd copy the text into a email to myself using my personal email account (not work one).
KatVanWall@reddit
That white on white is actually genius! It could be a good way to get around writer’s block too!
ohyeahofcourse@reddit
Its awesome as well because story writing (or DnD planning) is limitless. The more energy you put into thinking about it the better the story is. So it's an endless activity for distracting yourself!
KatVanWall@reddit
I'm an editor, so I'm always keen to encourage anyone to write! The number of manuscripts I've read/worked on ... really does make me believe everyone has a book in them, as the saying goes. The people who are not the best at the technicalities of writing are often the ones with the best story ideas, and I love it when they don't let anything put them off and together we can make it work!
Dry_Sandwich_860@reddit
This is your chance to learn Japanese or French. Get online and print out vocabulary/lessons. If you're staring at a stack of paper, people may think it's work-related. You could also use a little earpiece on one ear to listen to a language podcast.
pappyon@reddit
That’s a good idea but podcast difficult without a phone
sjcuthbertson@reddit
Once upon a time podcasts were downloaded from a computer onto a non-internet-enabled MP3 player device. This wouldn't be a huge hassle for a bulk load of timeless language lesson audio (as against current affairs podcasts etc).
OP might be able to find a cheap classic MP3 player (maybe even an iPod) online and might be allowed to keep that with them.
But I get the feeling this employer is actively trying to prevent the receptionist from doing anything that might make a visitor walking up to the reception desk feel like they don't instantly have 100% of the receptionist's attention. If so, an earbud is probably right out.
rinkydinkmink@reddit
I think they are probably just protecting the privacy of the vulnerable young people that they work with by preventing the possibility of someone photographing/recording them.
People are acting like this is "treating OP like a child" but I think it's a safety issue. Plus I've known plenty of people work in places where mobiles aren't allowed - even to the extent that the entire building is a Faraday cage. Some of my friends are not allowed social media at all ... even in their free time. There are good reasons for all of this and I expect that's the case for OP too.
sjcuthbertson@reddit
Yeah the OP hadn't added that extra context when I wrote my previous comment.
Now they've added it, I agree with you, it's not really mobile apps or social media that are not allowed for OP, it's cameras. They just happen to be built into the same devices these days.
NeverCadburys@reddit
They wouldn't even have to buy an old MP3 player, MP3 players are still being made and sold. I just bought one from Argos for £20 a couple of years ago
sjcuthbertson@reddit
TIL!
Dry_Sandwich_860@reddit
True, but if this is a receptionist job, maybe there's a laptop where it's possible to access podcasts.
caniuserealname@reddit
If OP can't read books due to passing guests there's no way they're getting away with listening to podcasts lol.
turkishhousefan@reddit
Tensai.
Dabbles-In-Irony@reddit
Download PDF books onto a USB stick and read them on the computer screen (if you can plug a USB in that is)
sjcuthbertson@reddit
Very strong chance (in context of an org that makes receptionist lock their phone away) that plugging in any USB storage will trigger alerts for a security team somewhere. No matter what is on the USB device.
Definitely suggest OP should ask first for this, as forgiveness might not be an option.
Expected_Toulouse_@reddit
you would be surprised how little security modern day workplaces have when it comes to the computers, scary
sjcuthbertson@reddit
I promise you nothing on that front would surprise me, but also, quite a lot of orgs actually do do endpoint security pretty well.
insomnimax_99@reddit
Yeah, lots of places have strict “no USB sticks” policies because they’re a security nightmare. Anything can be on them, and leaving USB sticks around with malware on them has been done before.
I think it’s actually how they got Stuxnet onto the Iranian nuclear systems.
sjcuthbertson@reddit
Plot twist: OP works on the reception desk for Iran's nuclear control HQ
phatboi23@reddit
exactly where i was gonna go with this haha
Bodkinmcmullet@reddit
Just email them to yourself
Dabbles-In-Irony@reddit
Depends on if OP is able to log into their emails if the internet is restricted
Bodkinmcmullet@reddit
Well obviously if they're only allowed to sit in silence then that's what they have to do
progboy@reddit
Write a book in your mind
RugbyValkyrie@reddit
If they can access the BBC, they may be able to get emails.
OP, I'm similarly restricted at work. I just kept trying different sites to see what I could and couldn't access. You quickly get an idea of what type of sites your employer has restricted.
Cabbagecatss@reddit
I work in a male dominated field in a male dominated company, so much so they haven’t thought to block anything ‘for women’ so I’m free to browse online shopping and media sites as long as they’re mainly for women lol
I always wonder when it will be noticed! Probably tomorrow now I’ve acknowledged it aloud (online)
PeteWTF@reddit
Can send to their work email
terryjuicelawson@reddit
Surely all receptions have a work email address.
PineappleFrittering@reddit
Or read old books on the Project Gutenberg website.
Anaptyso@reddit
If you have a Kindle then you can access its books via a browser as well, by logging in to the Amazon website.
Alpha_Majoris@reddit
Get a Kobo and download the epub books on the device using Calibre. You do this at home. No internet needed at work. Do you really need internet to use a Kindle? That is incredible.
phatboi23@reddit
no you don't.
you can get the books sent to your kindle on any wifi network from amazon or add them to the kindle with calibre.
d-ohrly@reddit
As if Amazon isn't blocked
starlinguk@reddit
They could bring the Kindle. You can just lean it against the monitor and nobody will notice.
hoochiscrazy_@reddit
Never stick personal USB devices into work computers people!
UpThem@reddit
This is the way. USB probably won't work so view on screen or print off.
cramponhoovercrust@reddit
Can you use an ereader rather than book? Easier to conceal and you can just prod it discreetly to turn pages
Either_Reality3687@reddit
sudoku, crossword puzzles. This way, you can do these when downtime shows up. Then, if someone comes along, you can put it down, then pick right back up.
No-Sandwich1511@reddit
Look at some online training to widen your skills to ensure you are not stuck in a job that could become very boring very quickly. Google, Salesforce ect all offer free online training.
Beginning-Emu-2036@reddit
Great idea! Nothing like a shiny new skill to distract me from the crushing reality of my soul-sucking job.
Think_Western2633@reddit
That's great advice; exploring free online training from platforms like Google and Salesforce can definitely help keep your skills fresh and make work more engaging!
CaregiverNo2642@reddit
Yes get paid to learn
mcmanus2099@reddit
He has limited internet access and can't bring a book?
Justboy__@reddit
Limited access doesn’t mean no access. It’s probably just social media that’s blocked.
Ecstatic_Food1982@reddit
It's the reverse practice in a lot of places now: it's not that only certain things are blocked, it's that everything is blocked unless it's whitelisted.
fwapfwapfwap@reddit
Got my wrist slapped recently for asking something to be added to the whitelist.
Allowlist is the preferred nomenclature now apparently.
Competitive_Art_4480@reddit
Really?
fwapfwapfwap@reddit
Only going by what I was told when I asked via a Slack channel. There's a whole bunch of old slightly problematic IT terminology which is being moved away from. I was shared a list of terms which I could probably dog out if you're interested.
Off the top of my head stuff like Master / Slave / Blacklist / Yellow Team / Native etc
Isaelie@reddit
You're right. I work in an executive position in cybersecurity. There's a big push towards replacing terms with more inclusive and technically descriptive language. It's usually gendered or coloured language. Allow list, non-authorised hacker instead of black hat, on-path attack instead of "man in the middle".
glasgowgeg@reddit
Sounds like whoever's whinging about that doesn't even know the origin of the term.
cybergazz@reddit
I did frequently blink at the language back when I was a rare female sysadmin in the 90s, and chortled at a bunch of nerdy lads calling permission levels things like "wizard" and "god" - with entirely insufficient irony. One time I complained on a Linux list of women being referred to with sexual slurs and the list admins told me they were too scared of the "lads" to confront them :D
Very glad to hear things are changing.
Isaelie@reddit
Yep! There's a strong push to professionalise all that stuff. I've had the displeasure of working with people who believe women can't "do" cybersecurity. We're having constant struggles recruiting and retaining staff, and it definitely doesn't help if we alienate people.
MazrimReddit@reddit
Well when you have a lot of people in similar people as OP who have no work and have to justify existing, you get policy reviews of stuff like that
Competitive_Art_4480@reddit
Fair enough. It sounds a bit like faux outrage hate bait but I haven't worked in those kinds of environments so what do I know.
MrPogoUK@reddit
And if they’ve gone as far as locking away OPs phone they’re probably also obsessively checking how much time they’re spending on the sites they can access, even if there is no actual work to be doing.
No-Structure-8125@reddit
Yes that's how it is where I work. I'm constantly emailing IT asking them to unblock stuff so I can buy parts/get quotes for stuff.
Justboy__@reddit
Then their IT guy must really have a lot of time on his hands.
neilm1000@reddit
Not really, you autoblock everything apart from certain sites. There's software that does it.
IAdoreAnimals69@reddit
My organisation uses categorisation based blocking. I tried to visit my own domain, which is my real name .com.
BLOCKED: Pornography
Intriguing.
Dmacca666@reddit
I mean, IAdoreAnimals69.com does sound a wee bit suspect...
MisterrTickle@reddit
They just operate a white list instead of a black list. Everything is banned, unless approved.
Justboy__@reddit
Yes that’s my point you’ll be inundated with requests to whitelist stuff
adamh02@reddit
This dude doesn't know the difference between a blacklist and a whitelist.
tmstms@reddit
Software can do this easily- in the days I used libraries, there was generally a restricted whitelist in order to keep children from doing bad stuff.
MarkEsmiths@reddit
Nintendo Switch?
tiorzol@reddit
Yea they lock your phone away but a console is fine I bet.
mcmanus2099@reddit
To do online training?
twos-company@reddit
Good luck with salesforce, it's a very competitive market even with years of experience.
No-Sandwich1511@reddit
Indeed but learning a new skill has never harmed anyone
Competitive_Art_4480@reddit
If it's impractical to read a book, online training sounds practically impossible
No-Sandwich1511@reddit
You can hide a web tab easier than a book
dutch-masta25@reddit
Just adding LinkedIn has loads of free training courses and some ones you can pay for. I’d be surprised if they blocked that
allyearswift@reddit
I would not want to spend a ton of time on LinkedIn during work. Even if it’s for a good cause.
But yes, I’ve spent downtime at a job doing MS Office training, which I could later apply at the job, whereas reading novels would have been frowned upon.
No-Sandwich1511@reddit
That is also a good shout
mozzamo@reddit
How do you think training on the job for a totally different job is going to go down with management?
AdhesivenessNo6288@reddit
It's literally part of our job as Civ Serv to train for other roles.
mozzamo@reddit
That’s slightly different to a receptionist training to be a developer on someone else’s dime as was broadly suggested
MJLDat@reddit
Perfectly acceptable for a low level mundane job.
No-Sandwich1511@reddit
Who's to say the training is for another job OP could be studying to improve his skill set to improve the job that they are currently doing. Showing that they are taking the initiative to improve.
RevHolyOne@reddit
This
Wrasse22@reddit
You are a true wordsmith, so eloquent.
Remarkable-Ad155@reddit
Very efficient writing, love it.
okizubon@reddit
Not sure actually. I’m more of a ‘that’ fan.
germainefear@reddit
"Those"
Ecstatic_Food1982@reddit
Correct.
I bet you also say 'these data' rathe than 'this data', for which I salute you.
moofacemoo@reddit
Them.
the_sneaky_one123@reddit
Doesn't sound like an office job
Minimum-Platform518@reddit
Have a wank in toilet
rinkydinkmink@reddit
or at the desk if you're feeling brave
Lower_Combination374@reddit
You could try bringing a small notebook for jotting down ideas or doodling, working on puzzles like Sudoku or crosswords if you can find printouts, or even organizing your workspace; listening to music or podcasts on a personal device during downtime might be another option if that’s allowed.
rinkydinkmink@reddit
oh thank god i was scrolling and scrolling thinking "surely it can't be true that nobody these days can think of any way of entertaining themselves without a computer?"
doodling was the first thing that occurred to me if reading a book isn't working, or knitting, doing puzzles, colouring, listening to radio 4 (they have good plays), listening to music
when I was a receptionist I just read a lot of books, it's pretty easy to put one down if someone needs attention and pick it back up again. The internet didn't even exist back then ... and mobile phones were massive bricks and you needed to carry a suitcase around with you, so only a few yuppies had them!
TheDevilsButtNuggets@reddit
I had a job where I would spend a few hours sitting at a stand in a shop, trying to sign people up for cards (that most already had) I have a giant pile of notes (written on the sign up cards) for a book that I thought I was going to write. It's been 8 years, I've still not written the book, but it was a good way to pass the time
Infinite_Thanks_8156@reddit
No phone but somehow has access to podcasts and music? Lol
Nolascana@reddit
Meh, my iPod nano still works, I have a mini speaker specifically for it. It's pretty easy to use old solutions, or having a small radio on if its permitted.
Or played through the computer through whitelisted sites.
Infinite_Thanks_8156@reddit
If they aren’t allowed phones then I doubt a damn iPod or a radio is allowed.
Nolascana@reddit
If they don't want phones because of it being a security issue, they might allow older tech.
A radio could be permitted if its limited to specific stations. Could be worth an ask if there isn't any ambient music already playing l.
FearCactus@reddit
I’ll send you some of my work to do. I dream of downtime.
Quirkyparticular8@reddit
Hi
twowheeledfun@reddit
Wikipedia has plenty of rabbit holes to dive into.
Rude-Leader-5665@reddit
Get a free book online. Copy the text into a word doc. Send it to your work email address Open email at your desk Read book
sleepyturdgoblin@reddit
V B in ghb full, so iut, I tUWMJw😃😃😃
martanimate@reddit
Look up Alison Courses, it's free and 2 years ago I lucked out and got a way better job out of it! I remember recommending it to others successfully
AcanthisittaFit1066@reddit
What course did you take out of interest?
martanimate@reddit
It's MArt Animation
SmokeyBlue22@reddit
Dude. Just bring your phone and be careful with it.
International-Bat777@reddit
Show some initiative and speak to your manager. Ask what else you could be doing. Make yourself stand out and you could get rewarded. Place I worked at previously this is exactly what the receptionist did. Went from reception through various positions ending in a very will paid job.
BeautyAndTheDekes@reddit
Make sure to give them a firm handshake to seal the deal!
Squire-1984@reddit
and remember to wear a clean pressed suite at the start of every day /s
IrreverentRacoon@reddit
Make solid eye contact with everyone you speak with at the office. It projects confidence.
Spackatronics@reddit
Be sure to tell them, What ain’t no country I ever heard of
the_sneaky_one123@reddit
Pull yourself up by them bootstraps
BlueTrin2020@reddit
Most important comment
pysgod-wibbly_wobbly@reddit
Be the first to turn up and the last to leave /s
It's not the 1950s that stuff doest work anymore. They will enjoy the fact you are doing extra work above your pay grade for free..
daneview@reddit
That's rubbish. There's still a lot of value in being noticed by working hard and being proactive.
r/antiwork live in a dream world
red_chin_chompa@reddit
I work at royal mail and the workforce is absolutely full of 50-60 year old guys who have been doing this their whole lives, and every single one of them that I've spoken to has told me not to do anything more than my allotted route and contracted hours, because as soon as you show that it's possible for you to do a little extra, management will then permanently incorporate that extra work into your duty, so you'll be doing more work with less time and the same pay.
BuffettsBrokeBro@reddit
The problem with this is that 50-60 year old guys still working as posties are going to self-select towards those that do the bare minimum they can. Which is fine, if that’s what they want.
Whilst I don’t agree with the parent comment a can-do attitude and a bit of graft will get you from reception to some highly paid job, I do think there is an intermediary step. It might not be right or great for work/life balance that you initially have to take on more for the same pay, but that can be how you get promoted
pysgod-wibbly_wobbly@reddit
You should do the job you are paid to do and no more.
I'm my experience being good at my duties is what gotten me respect and rewarded.
I actually did get promoted for being good at my job and having firm boundaries. Boundaries, an integrity is what earns you respect.
Doing someone else's job from free "acting up" just makes you a door mat
progboy@reddit
Exactly, being a postie nowadays absolutely sucks. When the union collapsed I had to quiet-quit until they booted my arse out the door
AJMurphy_1986@reddit
Guess you've been lucky.
The only people I've seen rewarded are the arse kissers and the office politicians.
I used to graft and just found myself rewarded with more work. Now I do the bare minimum to avoid being sacked.
LewisZ5@reddit
It's not what you know, it's who you know.
centzon400@reddit
Or what you know about who you know.
(Kinda like Chief Whip in a political party.)
daneview@reddit
That's fine if you're content in that job but you're never going to get promoted or move upward by just doing the Bare minimum, and some arse kissing doesn't always hurt as long as you're also willing to stand your ground when you need to
AJMurphy_1986@reddit
I just move jobs.
The only arse I'll kiss is my better halves.
daneview@reddit
I quite like staying at the same place when I've made friends then and got on with the vibe
Flinglish200@reddit
Pull your socks up 🧦
_ologies@reddit
If you've got time to lean, you've got time to clean
Flinglish200@reddit
Eye contact on the FIRM handshake 🤝
Monkeytennis01@reddit
I think you have to be very careful about how you approach this one as have seen it go wrong multiple times. It could be viewed that you lack the initiative to ‘keep yourself busy’ and some managers don’t want the extra burden of having to ‘find’ things for you to do. Sometimes it’s best just to keep quiet, look for ways to increase efficiency or make processes more lean and present them off your own back.
Big-Finding2976@reddit
Kinda hard to do that if your job is just to answer the phone and it only rings 3 times an hour. I guess you could try to find ways to make those calls even shorter / more efficient, but then you'll spend even more of your day being bored doing nothing.
Monkeytennis01@reddit
At the risk of a potentially circular argument, this is where you need to use your initiative to find things to do. Doesn’t necessarily have to be in your own remit, observe what is happening all around you. Could be very simple improvements but the whole point is to show that you’re taking responsibility for your own workload and are engaged. Get noticed.
NewJeansBunnie@reddit
Yeah. Like a different job altogether.
Monkeytennis01@reddit
Yes, this is certainly another option!
harrietfurther@reddit
I did this in my first job out of college. I was paid to sit in an office and answer the phone, which rang a few times an hour. The management were too busy to care that I was wasting my time and their money so I had to go and ask for stuff to do. Filing, data entry, proofeading website copy.
I'd rather be busy than bored and worst case scenario you learn something and get a better reference at the end of it.
Delduath@reddit
The worst case scenario is you get taken advantage of and start doing the work of multiple people for the same pay.
EverythingIsByDesign@reddit
Just because you have asked for work doesn't mean you have to say yes to every offer though.
Dogstile@reddit
If two people's jobs equates to me not being bored off my ass for 90% of the day i'm probably going to do it, tbh.
Competitive_Art_4480@reddit
Which is fine at times. But then you start being expected to do two people's jobs and then what happens when that's not possible. They don't think about the great help you've been they just think of the problem you are causing today.
Dogstile@reddit
When its not possible you point to your contract and remind them that you're its not your responsibility and you were covering, but your contracted responsibilities come first. If they want that to change they're welcome to write up a new contract but i'd expect more pay to go with more responsibility.
If they don't like it, well, you've been doing two jobs. Deal with it for a bit while you interview for a place that'll likely pay you more just to do one of them.
Forsaken_Custard6621@reddit
If you have the time, and it is not more responsibility, why not? You would rather be bored?
newfor2023@reddit
I did this and then after 5 years had a bunch of things I could shove in my CV. Accidentally became the excel person (google works), then reporting because of that. Bits of finance and audit stuff, doing PO's then picking up some procurement, then some more. A one year course later I had a qualification. Got some work for a 40% raise off the excel stuff, then finished the project early and jumped for a 50% raise for the procurement stuff.
Now working remotely after that finished for 3k less but with way more job security at somewhere I could actually see staying a. Turnover is basically 0, everyone's helpful and some have been here decades, 4 in one case.
Considering I started out as basically admin support it went well.
Longirl@reddit
Yeah but the best case scenario is that you’re acknowledged as a hard worker who is proactive. Those people go a lot further in life and in their careers.
Delduath@reddit
I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. I've worked with a lot of "go-getters" who got absolutely screwed by doing the roles of multiple people, making themselves unpromotable. I love the fairy tale about businesses recognising and rewarding hard work, but I think the case more often is that hard work leads to more work.
Longirl@reddit
Ok then, let's look at it another way. You're working on reception in a boring job and your bosses are the type who take advantage of you. You put your hand up and take on extra work but you're not rewarded or recognised for it. You update your CV with all the new skills and duties you've learned during this boring job. You apply for a role that's a step up the ladder and paying more money.
There's no negatives to upskilling yourself when you're at the start of your career. It's not about your bosses and how they treat you, it's about being ambitious and wanting to better yourself.
I've worked in offices for 26 years and I've seen plenty of people rewarded for their hard work in the way of salary increases, kudos and promotions. How else do you think people make their way up the ladder?
Delduath@reddit
Some people have aspirations outside of office work and just do it for the money. I work in an office, its easy and fairly well paid and I have zero aspirations in this line of work. I just use it as a reliable way to pay the bills so I can focus on other persuits.
Longirl@reddit
Well, that's good for you but it's pretty rare. OP is asking what they should do as they're bored at work. Upskilling yourself and learning new soft and hard skills will not go against you in life, regardless of where you want your career to go. Some of those skills could even be transferred into another type of role in the future. Either way, any future employer is going to want to hear that you "asked for extra tasks during quiet times", no matter what setting/environment you're working in. It speaks of your character.
eggplantsarewrong@reddit
this is either written by a teenager or a 50 year old, no inbetween
shpetzy@reddit
Rather that than be bored
harrietfurther@reddit
Sure, but at the moment OP has so little to do that they're actually bored. There's a lot of distance to cover before they end up in that situation.
WynterRayne@reddit
In my old job, the general gist was that the less you're doing, the more you're doing
I did night security (desk job) in homeless hostels.
There was a trick to it. Staring at a CCTV screen for 12 hours is neither particularly useful nor feasible. We humans have brains and they get bored. Walking round the building...well, people are sleeping. Best kept to a pattern, not too often.
Phones were not allowed. But they were also not confiscated or anything like that. The general expectation was that people would be wary of the fact that they weren't supposed to have their phone out because they were expected to be paying attention to the building around them... so phone use would be kept minimal, on the down-low and as unintrusive as possible.
For some reason folks never seemed to get that, though. I got it, and I was happily gaming and such all night long on my phone, primed to snap away from it at a pin-drop. Others would either end up absorbed in theirs and not do their job, or sit stiffly for about 45 minutes and fall asleep from sheer boredom.
Wild_Region_7853@reddit
To counter this, I worked on a reception desk and did fuck all. I was on buzzfeed for most of my free time and would actively shy away from additional work, unless it was something fun like planning the office party. I was friendly though and everyone knew me, so I got approached for a better job within the company because they could see I was bored out of my mind. I left there in about 7 years ago and am now earning nearly double what the reception job paid me.
lduxuifjicu@reddit
The only reward this kind of ass-kissing gets you is more and more work until you get to the point of having to complete a week's worth in one day.
daneview@reddit
If you can complete a weeks work in a day then it's only a days work isn't it
barryscottrudepie@reddit
Doesn’t necessarily mean you’re able to. I’ve seen people burnout and quit multiple times because they were so damn efficient and got loaded with ever more work because it was assumed they could handle it. But yeah, in OP’s case, doing something extra won’t hurt, e.g. little Excel skills course
Big-Finding2976@reddit
They might lay off your colleagues because they're no longer needed now that you're doing their jobs as well as your own, and you'll have more space and less noise in the office once they're gone, which is a reward. Kind of. In any event, you're not getting any extra money.
Joey_Sparx@reddit
Asking for more work only gets you rewarded one way….with more work.
International-Bat777@reddit
I'd much rather be busy than bored.
Joey_Sparx@reddit
I’d much rather be paid accordingly with my production
Douglesfield_@reddit
Honestly, same.
WithBothNostrils@reddit
Every time I've gone above and beyond in a job I've been rewarded with more work and no extra pay
abw@reddit
But this isn't a case of being made to work extra hours for free, it's about being productive in the hours you're already being paid for.
daneview@reddit
It's more of a long term thing than an immediate reciever
Arcane_As_Fuck@reddit
This isn’t the 1950s bud.
cactusdan94@reddit
This probobly would of worked in 1975 lol
DurgeDidNothingWrong@reddit
🤣 love a bit of tuesday morning humour
sjcuthbertson@reddit
This is the real answer
Smiley_Dub@reddit
💯
MrBearskins@reddit
Fineeee :) gone.
MrBearskins@reddit
Get a usb stick, put Tor browser on it and use that to browse the internet as it'll bypass any security measures that are installed :)
Can't guanratee it'll work for you but it has worked for me in every company that I've been at that has restricted access.
glasgowgeg@reddit
That would be an incredibly clear-cut breach of any systems policy the employer has and OP should absolutely not do that.
I'm surprised any company you've worked for would allow you to do that, and if my current company caught you doing it, you'd likely be hit for gross misconduct and breach of the IT policy.
MrBearskins@reddit
It would be potentially depending on what you used it for and the companies IT policies..keep in mind not every company is the same and either way, just don't get caught :)
glasgowgeg@reddit
You're using it to evade security policy, it's gross misconduct already.
Unauthorised install of unapproved software, gross misconduct.
Plugging in unvetted USB sticks to a company machine, gross misconduct.
You're giving incredibly bad advice and OP shouldn't do what you're saying.
AkihabaraWasteland@reddit
Think about how you can better yourself and improve so that you're not doing this for peanuts for the rest of your life.
sjr606@reddit
I would get some ebooks and read them in pdf or word
Quiet-Phantasm@reddit
Google maps and street view, go look around random counties, killed countless hours doing that in the past
PriorityInversion@reddit
Can you get on chess.com or lichess? If so have a go at those
centzon400@reddit
Get a 2nd phone.
UKS1977@reddit
Crossword.
deep-blue-seams@reddit
Can you access the guardian website? They have all their puzzles and crosswords on there. Learn to do cryptics and you'll never be bored again!
seasickwolf@reddit
A bunch of the NYT puzzles are also free online
MellowedOut1934@reddit
My place blocks just the games part of the NYT site. Fuckers.
-sstudderz@reddit
Good to know!
Flinglish200@reddit
Get another job? If you don’t like the downtime and they don’t let you use the downtime in a meaningful way I’d leave otherwise you’ll be tearing your hair out with boredom
Flinglish200@reddit
Work
D0wnb0at@reddit
Things I have done in the past.
Bought sodoku books, rip out the page and put it on a diary/notepad that you can look like you are writing in and close if someone comes by. Looks like you are working.
One job I could get on Reddit but was too obvious to browse my normal pages so I’d read /r/talesfromtechsupport as they were often long winded and multi parts, I would open outlook and resize the window for Reddit so it fit in the box where you read the email. Or copy and paste the text into a word document and read from there.
Done the same for online courses too.
Jjagger63@reddit
In a similar role i emailed myself some pdf books to read, some past test papers to have a go at and some puzzles for something different. And as some others have suggested there are free online resources to boost your skills.
Early_Ticket_8777@reddit
I used to have a job like this the night before I used to send myself emails with news articles to read and pdf books to read. It passed the time
glasstumblet@reddit
In ear airpod, listen to audio books and podcasts
KayGlo@reddit
May or may not be financially feasible but could you get a smart watch that has Spotify on it and listen to audio books with wireless earbuds?
Might be an expensive suggestion though!
Academic-Bug-4597@reddit
What does this mean? Why would "people backwards and forwards through my area" prevent you reading?
ChairmanSunYatSen@reddit
Podcasts. The most entertaining I've come across is MSSP, a comedy podcast.
Erheniel@reddit
I used to be in a similar position, only had access to Reuters and the FCO website and all Microsoft Office. I used to practice my typing by copying out articles to look busy, and printed out Excel classes I could practice on too.
Peter_gggg@reddit
Ask your accountant/ sales admin manager I used to get my re eptionist to check purchase invoices, do filing and general admin
TheAlbertBrennerman@reddit
Count to 1 million in intervals
RubyRubyRoby@reddit
Sit ups and press ups?! And try and find another job?
CrazyPlantLady01@reddit
Have you got your own life admin that you can get done without getting into trouble? Write letters, pay bills etc?
Are you required to look busy/ready or could you sit there and openly be knitting etc?
CranberryWizard@reddit
Have you considered doing your job?
twilekquinn@reddit
Done reception for a long time - sometimes being bored as shit is part of the job. That said, speak to your boss and ask for something to do - someone will always need their credit card reconciling or database of something or other updating. Social committee, health and safety stuff, helping hr with onboarding (doing welcome packs or helping itineraries), ad hoc stuff for the PAs like helping with travel bookings...there is ALWAYS something people are happy to fob off onto the front desk.
lordlitterpicker@reddit
Use a vpn.
Competitive_Art_4480@reddit
Music, podcasts, language learning, puzzles.
Then-Jerico@reddit
Quality control in seat, couch, sofa comfort
Acceptable-Hakett@reddit
Is kindle cloud reader blocked? If not ebooks are the way forward
iatecurryatlunch@reddit
Your job
Single-Hawk3493@reddit
Practice mindfulness. Learn to sit with yourself and your passing thoughts, learn to be in the now and enjoy or at least accept the fact you a present. Sounds woo woo but it can be liberating as hell
cazzzle@reddit
I worked at a place like this once and spent my free time reading on the computer, making training documents and updating the company intranet (though I ended up loving that part of the job so much I quit and now build websites for a living).
Why don't you email e-books to your work email? Nobody can see your work emails and you can have it up on the screen like you're busy, but actually just reading whatever takes your fancy.
whatatwit@reddit
If you can get to the beeb and you have a speaker there is a treasure trove of comedy, drama and documentary in listen again mode. You can listen in a browser: https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl7l. A few of us have highlighted some things we've enjoyed on Radio 4 Extra and Radio 4 and even Radio 3 here: r/britishradio.
CR1SBO@reddit
Doodle all the things
Justan0therthrow4way@reddit
I’d be asking for extra admin duties or look at ways you can up skill yourself. Yes, a lot of people would be happy to have downtime at work, but being bored in the office is particularly bad.
Throwaway91847817@reddit
As your immediate superior, not Reddit.
snarkycrumpet@reddit
My friend used to go in early and photocopy 5 chapters of a book, and staple them together. Then he'd sit there reading the pages with a highlighter pen in his hand, like he was reviewing a report.
joolster@reddit
Kindle or other e-book reader leaned on the desktop screen?
DJGibbon@reddit
Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. If a book's impractical due to people coming and going it's probably due to the faff of closing it, popping in a bookmark, that sort of thing. A Kindle is much less obtrusive and doesn't care if you look away for several minutes.
joolster@reddit
And also doesn’t do the annoying paper book thing of keep shutting itself unless you destroy the spine.
Otto1968@reddit
Discrete single earbud connected wirelessly to an MP3 player with audiobooks on there
Get a writing pad and hide some puzzles in there The PC you are using, see if you can load PDFs on it somehow, eg via email if you have a work account. Books in PDF form available at https://annas-archive.org/ Play games using Excel- https://www.powerusersoftwares.com/post/10-legendary-games-created-by-excel-geniuses
I would love this challenge, theres always a way!
um_-_no@reddit
What sort of reception do you work at that means you have your phone locked away? I ask because it could be a legit reason, or it could be a control thing from management
If it's control, I'd get an old phone and hand that in and then listen to podcasts or if the angles allow it, prop the phone up so it looks like you're on your laptop but actually watching movies or YouTube or whatever
If your phone is locked away for security or safeguarding reasons, then idk man..... Could you get an old school MP3 player?
mannyman08@reddit
I used to use proxy sites on my breaks to get round it just Googled a random one n there was always one that worked could access anything only downside was it's slow
Mad_Bungee_Hill@reddit
This is the time to start writing your first novel.
SuperMotard-7@reddit
Ask the boss if there is anything stimulating and useful you can do in the downtime? Something that might even pay a bonus?
No_Imagination_sorry@reddit
I feel like I've seen that movie.
boufroy@reddit
free books on gutenberg.org
dunbar91@reddit
I wouldn’t work for a manager who locks away my phone. I’m not 5, I’m an adult
dunbar91@reddit
I wouldn’t work for a manager who locks away my phone. I’m not 5, I’m an adult
jpepsred@reddit
If your phone gets locked away at the start of every shift, it’s time to start looking for a new job where you aren’t treated like a child. It might seem like a small thing, but a job like that is going to psychologically kill you after a few months.
Future_Direction5174@reddit
Certain jobs have strict security - banking, military & medical for example.
I worked in a bank, and there was a strict “no phones in working areas”. We could get them out of our lockers during breaks as long as they stayed in the break room, and if there was a need (expecting an urgent phone call, need to take call from child’s school if something happens to them) then you could leave your phone with the supervisor. If you were caught with your phone in the office, then it was a “grievous” and meant immediate dismissal. We had no computers (mail room), BUT we were allowed to bring in puzzle books for quiet periods.
jpepsred@reddit
I don’t stand corrected. Your supervisor was acting like your teacher.
Slavir_Nabru@reddit
You could lock away a decoy phone instead.
Chrome Remote Desktop (assuming Google isn't blocked). Use your home PC remotely in a browser window to get around any internet blocks and run whatever software you like.
blueblacklotus@reddit
Origami is a fun one to do i used to do tiny cranes and put them in a jar on my desk
vinylla45@reddit
Print out something you want to memorise (poetry, language vocab lists, history or science snippets, a world map, whatever floats your boat) and learn it/test yourself on it. Not as visible as a book (albeit also less entertaining) and that way your down time is not entirely wasted.
DurgeDidNothingWrong@reddit
Gameboy colour and pokemon? Unless they are so strict that its ZERO electronics, but at that point I might send a ticket direct to ITSEC and ask for an exception (go behind who you report to, ITSEC probably wont say no on the basis of "time to lean time to clean" mentality).
the_blacksmith_no8@reddit
🤣🤣 Jesus wept
DurgeDidNothingWrong@reddit
My thinkin was bring in some quarter of a century old tech with less power than a calculator would probably get a pass
Nimble_D1ck@reddit
Do you have access to a scanner? When I had a similar job I'd come in 20 minutes earlier and scan in a few chapters and email it to myself as a pdf so I could read at my desk without it being obvious
Top_Presentation3429@reddit
I copied and pasted a whole kindle book (you have to do one chapter at a time, delete the download and redownload the book between chapters as it only let's you copy so much) and emailed it to my work email address.
angel_0f_music@reddit
Do you have access to the Project Gutenberg website? Hundreds of copyright free books are available to read without needing to download anything. Ever meant to read Treasure Island, Jane Eyre, or Great Expectations? Now's your chance.
ChloeOnTheInternet@reddit
Or alternatively, the Internet Archive works as a library service so you can read books which are still copyrighted.
Push-the-pink-button@reddit
Brilliant! thank you.
Narrow_Maximum7@reddit
Sudoku
FigSufficient@reddit
Years ago I worked on reception for a government office. I got friendly with the admin assistants and made myself available for jobs they could delegate, from sorting business cards, fixing email lists, putting stamps on a pile of letters, etc. I ended up getting promoted within 3 months and believe trying to overcome my boredom on reception played a massive part in that.
smobert@reddit
Job hunt for a job that respects you enough not to lock away your phone. Your not a toddler.
Important-Constant25@reddit
How are people actually giving answers to this? Your employer makes you lock away your own personal possession? You are an adult correct?
Here's the answer: Any job that makes you do that 100% isn't worth it. So find another.
inspectorgadget9999@reddit
Could you team up with one of the sales guys to play tricks on one of the more unlikable staff? Like putting their stapler in jelly?
ReplicatedSun@reddit
I have a few book PDFs on my work PC, looks like you're working at a glance and helps pass the time if things are quiet.
Numerous-Paint4123@reddit
Get a new job. Don't work somewhere that treats you like a child.
Arcane_As_Fuck@reddit
Jesus Christ, are our brains all so melted from constant screen input that people can’t get through their workdays anymore? I dunno, do what people did at boring jobs for all of history until 10 years ago. Sit there and get paid to do nothing and be grateful your not shoveling shit or putting shingles on a house.
Arcane_As_Fuck@reddit
I suggest quietly staring at the clock.
LandRoverQueen39@reddit
Ask the manager first, shows you’re proactive and willing to pull your weight which will give them a good opinion of you. You could also ask colleagues if they have anything that needs doing or they can think of that would be useful. Also the online training is a definite too. There’s loads of free coding courses if IT is your thing.
alsparky8383@reddit
Exactly this, could be small jobs which OP could do to help like opening mail or stuffing envelopes.
DiDiPLF@reddit
The receptionists in a big office I worked in did alsorts, setting up and clearing meeting rooms, post, typing, arranging events, ordering stationary, managing repairs/contractors, personal assistants to directors. Loads of stuff needs doing in a big office that the reception would be ideal to take some of
FragrantCow2645@reddit
Sounds like an awful place to work
PrestigiousFox6254@reddit
Nice try, boss.
amymorgan7@reddit
I used to take a notepad in and write short stories on good ol pen and paper
ZookeepergameRich454@reddit
Open up Word and start writing that novel.
Cardo94@reddit
Here you go. It's a github resource that makes reddit look like Outlook 2013.
https://pcottle.github.io/MSOutlookit/
fleaArmy@reddit
Clean, then get a new job.
HargorTheHairy@reddit
Email yourself a logic puzzle. One of those 'there are 5 houses, each of a different colour' ones. I can happily spend hours working through those.
SunUsual550@reddit
I'd take a book. I know it doesn't necessarily look good and people might make assumptions but just make it clear that you've got nothing to do and if needed you're happy to help.
I used to have a job where you were essentially just reacting to what happens and some days were very busy and some days were very quiet. You rarely had just enough work to keep you busy.
During the school holidays everything seemed to just grind to a halt for weeks at a time.
I used to listen to podcasts, read books, listen to music. During the world cup I even watched some football on my work computer.
Sometimes people would make funny comments or imply I was shirking responsibilities and I just pointed out that it wasn't in my job description to pretend to look busy for hours on end. That I wasn't going to deliberately work slowly to avoid running out of things to do when there's no work and that no one ever said anything when I was working till 6.30pm because someone decided to dump something on me at 4.30pm because they couldn't be arsed to raise it earlier in the day.
Personally if that's how the job is, I'd be looking for another job. Trust me, that job turned my brain into mush. I need to be challenged and stimulated at work and being bored all day is not good for you.
Accomplished-Cook654@reddit
Origami
Lunaspoona@reddit
Online jigsaws if they aren't blocked, makes you look busy and intense but kills a lot of time.
We also used to spend a lot of time of Zoopla looking at ridiculously expensive houses as wasn't blocked.
daddy-dj@reddit
Nah, forget online jigsaw puzzles... Rock up to work on Monday morning with a real jigsaw puzzle. Hopefully your desk is big enough, but just push everything aside if not.
If your place has visitors then you could ask them to help you out whilst they're waiting for their host to come and sign them in.
TingsInMaSocks@reddit
Some people have recommended that you ask your manager whether there's anything else you could be doing.
I would ask about online training before asking about little odd jobs. There's a good chance they dump the most tedious, shite, looking-busy-without-a-purpose tasks on you. Your manager probably doesn't care about what you do as long as you look busy in front of their bosses.
Run it past your manager first obviously, if the company support career development they may not mind you doing training for a role you would like to aim for in the future. If they're not so career progression friendly, then make sure it's relevant to your job role.
If your manager has given the okay but the site is blocked, you can probably just ring/e-mail IT and have them unblock it.
JimmyTheDog@reddit
Why is your personal phone locked up and you can't use it? Also give them a dummy phone and keep yours.
SubstanceKind8270@reddit
Learn a language
whirler_girl@reddit
I used to email ebooks to my work email when I worked in a dead role, always looked like I was doing something and helped pass the time!
Opposite-Scheme-8804@reddit
Assuming you have access to email, find a book online and email it to yourself.
or whack some movies/tv shows on a usb and plug it into the machine.
legenddave1980@reddit
Also, if you email something to your own email it generally flags with IT.
gamingchicken@reddit
Email it from a different email
darthcaedus81@reddit
Do not do this. Even if the USB ports aren't locked down (and given the restrictions on web access I suspect they may be) plugging external devices in is probably a breach of policy
Scary-Try3023@reddit
Sudokus or other puzzle books could be a good idea. Maybe a notebook for doodling. You could even buy one of those gcse/ a level maths or science revision books and do the exercises in them if you want to improve your maths/English or science skills. A really silly one but I saw a lot of office workers have Lego. A little bowl of Lego on your desk and whenever boredom arises just start clicking bricks together
ArCKAngel365@reddit
Play Sudoku in your head. Just memorise 15-20 puzzles before your shift and solve them in your head in your down time.
360Saturn@reddit
Try opening a different browser, things might not be blocked on it.
-Free-Soul-@reddit
I used to download ebooks and read them on screen when I had downtime. As long as the title etc isn't visible it's hard for anyone to tell you aren't looking at work related stuff.
The_Hinge_54@reddit
Ask for some work to do. Sitting around doing nothing (or wanting to be on your phone) during downtime is an easy way of losing your job.
BaldPleaser@reddit
Actually do some work to keep yourself occupied.
nothingbutadam@reddit
if you are allowed to listen to music/audiobooks, eg have headphones in, then maybe get a small mp3 player? can always have just one headphone in, depends how strict they are about that
Commander_Sock66@reddit
Maybe get into drawing. Easy to put down and pick up again when things are quiet
magicalthinker@reddit
They lock your phone away? What the actual fuck!?! Are you an employee or a child/slave?
YarnPenguin@reddit
Second phone with audiobook software on.
Hannah-may@reddit
Go on excel and plan anything life admin. Write food shopping list, dinners, meal plan. Places to visit, Christmas card list, present shopping list, personal budget.
Or start a creative project,Journaling, write a book. You can even use excel to plan cross stitch and quilting.
Anything on excel will look like you’re working.
pysgod-wibbly_wobbly@reddit
I used to sing songs and make up stories (all silent in my head)
Learn some origami
Challenge myself with a moral dilemma
You can meditate practice mindfulness
ianbhenderson73@reddit
I would ask if it’s possible to do online training courses. It might mean that you’d have to get the sites whitelisted but it may also be that the company you work for uses already uses an online training resource such as LinkedIn Learning.
d3gu@reddit
Load some ebooks onto a pen drive or email them to yourself. Do a creative writing challenge, look up prompts and try to write something every day.
I temped a reception like this. The woman I sat next to literally just sat in silence staring into space in between phone calls. I'm glad I was only there a week or so.
Illustrious_Ad_7570@reddit
If you can find a website that you like to read (news, a topic you like, sports, fashion, social info etc), copy and paste it into word, make the font small, but big enough for you to read.
That way you can read your favourite website, but people think you're editing a document. Just go through it with your keyboard and mouse - and know one will know.
A work friend passed this down to me when I started a new job a few years back - it helped pass the time. Hope it helps.
Tony_Marone@reddit
eReader?
Flewizzle@reddit
Get a VPN??
Flewizzle@reddit
Do kegel exercises all day and think of chat up lines
20C_Mostly_Cloudy@reddit
Start that novel you always planned on writing.
ATrollNamedRod@reddit
Online chess?
BlueTrin2020@reddit
Widen your skills, get training, get involved with people who could help your career.
Ask other people what they do in the meantime.
Logical_Support6303@reddit
Apply for other jobs?
thehoneybadger1223@reddit
If you really have nothing else to do and you can't do any training or organising, look at stuff and see how many brands you can think of that sells that stuff. Like pens, bic, zebra, staedtler etc, batteries: duracell, Panasonic, energise...its not the best use of your time, but it beats rotting away out of boredom
makeitrain2020@reddit
Get a Anbernic RG35XX games emulator (or a similar model) loaded with 10,000+games from Amazon etc.
Relative-Career2208@reddit
Haha my mum works in a shop in a hotel. She sits on Netflix most of the time. Luckily for her, it’s expensive enough that the shop gets by with only a few customers.
Percypocket@reddit
They LOCK your phone away at a desk job? That's mad.
filbert94@reddit
Could be a security issue. It's not uncommon.
HideousTits@reddit
Draw or write maybe?
Facelessroids@reddit
Your phone gets locked away??
gloomfilter@reddit
Can you access the kindle cloud reader?
hiker201@reddit
Here’s something wild to try: working.
IansGotNothingLeft@reddit
Unfortunately, there are jobs out there which pay you to sit and look at walls until you are needed, like a robot. They're painful and they addle your brain. Receptionist is one of those jobs.
skelly890@reddit
Another is ‘spare driver’, which is what I’m doing today. So I have - entirely at my own initiative to stave off the crushing boredom - prepped every thing I’m allowed to for the next shift, wandered around the fleet looking for defects, picked random bits of litter up, and cleaned the coffee machine.
But there’s at least an hour to go sitting here doing sod all. On the plus side I get to keep my phone so I can browse Reddit.
Recent-Setting-4551@reddit (OP)
As the post states, in the “downtime”. I only have a certain number of tasks. They can all be done in 2 hours.
Scarred_fish@reddit
Don't confuse "doing something " with "working". The two may seem the same, but they're not.
I struggled a lot with this when moving to more desk based work, but you learn that just moving the mouse around and typing documents and emails counts as work too, no matter how weird that feels.
caniuserealname@reddit
You're being incredibly condescending, while completely, and ignorantly, dismissing what op is telling you.
Reception work often simply doesn't have "documents to type" or "emails to send". A lot of the time reception work is just being there to assist customers when and if they needed, coupled with simply providing a human presence. If you've actioned everything needed near the start of your shift, there becomes a lot of down time where there simply isn't any work to do.
Scarred_fish@reddit
That's exactly what I said. There not being any work to do doesn't mean they're not working in this case.
sjcuthbertson@reddit
Sorry if this is a silly question but have you tried asking for more tasks?
IpromithiusI@reddit
Typical management material - skim the message, completely miss the content and context, blow off on one.
You'll go far.
OK_TimeForPlan_L@reddit
At my old job with a lot of downtime I used to just read pdfs of books and never got pulled up on it so assume it's not really noticeable for people walking by your desk.
antrky@reddit
Read a book
Curious-Term9483@reddit
Definitely first step is to speak to your manager about how you have capacity to be doing other work while you are sat there and ask what else you should be doing in down time. Use your own initiative in terms of any "tidy up the foyer" type activities you could be doing.
Once you have done that then I would consider it pretty fair game to be reading the newspaper doing any free online classes (ideally something vaguely work related!), crochet, puzzle books or whatever.
I had a job once where I had so little to do that I flipped and ended up openly applying for new jobs at work. Having nothing to do is soul destroying and there is only so many times you can tidy up the stationery cupboard or wander round the office begging for things to do 🤣
mycophilota@reddit
Can you bring a tablet? Then you can read on that whilst looking professional (get a 2 in 1 with a wee keyboard). If fully analogous: take up knitting or crocheting, make flashcards to learn a new skill or language, book/printed pdf, look up discreet exercise to do at your desk. Less than ideal, feeling ya.
remwreck@reddit
They’re probably locking the smartphone away as they don’t want a receptionist sat there looking bored staring at a smart device…. Doesn’t give the best initial impression to clients. Bringing in a tablet is not the answer here.
mycophilota@reddit
That's why I'm suggesting one that looks like a wee laptop. My circumstances are different but also sometimes require me to look at my personal devices on the job and that's why I got a wee surface go, it looks infinitely more professional than checking my phone, even if I'm doing the same thing. It also allows me to read things while at work when things are slow.
It's stupid, and tbh its on the employer to ensure the employee doesn't get bored to death, borders onto torture to not allow any type of filler if they don't have enough to do.
RugbyValkyrie@reddit
Locking the smartphone away may be to do with security. I'm not allowed anything with internet/wifi/bluetooth capability. We have Internet access, but it is restricted.
terryjuicelawson@reddit
I had a job like this - spent a lot of time on Wikipedia just reading about random topics. Learned a lot about the world. Reading books. Doing crosswords. Stuff that can be done on a screen and clicked off at a moment's notice really, probably email yourself quite a lot of stuff.
MrAlf0nse@reddit
I used to keep small notebooks like a moleskin and either draw sketches, or write stuff.
Or read carefully
I knew a guy that cut crossword puzzles out of every newspaper he came across and kept them in his coat pocket for emergencies.
mozzamo@reddit
Take an older iPod touch and listen to podcasts
First_Folly@reddit
Crossword book. You can glance at it and figure out the clue whilst you're otherwise occupied and then write it in when you get a chance.
cavergirl@reddit
If the restrictions allow you to access Google Scholar, you can read academic papers on all sorts of random things
PikeyDCS@reddit
I wouldn't ask my manager what I could do, that's crazy. They will know you are bored and give you something you don't want to do or start defining what you can and cannot do way too specifically. No, you sir have now got a challenge and will learn about proxy avoidance. Explore that PC like a hamster in a cage, but preferably after you explore your job contract, all work related policies and any tools you've been provided.
yearsofpractice@reddit
Hey OP. 48 year old corporate veteran here. Unlucky regards current situation - boredom is the worst stressor of all, so fingers crossed we on this sub can help.
My initial thought is to ask your line manager if there are any internal training resources available on an intranet (or similar) that you could access and take during periods of low foot-fall in reception. To be clear - frame it as “looking for a learning opportunity”, not “nothing to do” as your boss may be an old-fashioned “well, I had to put up with boredom, so you can too!” dinosaur.
That will help in the short-term, hopefully.
In the longer term, you could look for opportunities to improve the department you work in - potentially new ways of doing things, cutting waste, improving workflows etc. Please, however, ensure you do that in the following way unless people will take exception
I’ve found that the best way to get promotions or opportunities is by being seen (by the right people) as a problem solver. Just be very careful how you present the idea of a “problem” - any fool can point out problems, it takes a real pro to provide and implement solutions.
Hope that helps - also, please read any follow-up comments to my comment - I’m hoping people will give their views too so that you don’t just listen to the first idiot (me!).
All the best!
magonotron@reddit
I used to really enjoy Google map exploring and street-viewing different places (and castles!) during quiet periods while I was at a receptionist job a few years ago. I do enjoy a good map though, so maybe not for everyone, but I’d be surprised if you couldn’t access Google maps at least.
Honest-Lunch870@reddit
Quit, your brain is too active for a boring job like this. Some people love it and can zone out for hours, you're not one of them. In your heart, you know this is true.
Illustrious-Divide95@reddit
Maybe a puzzle book, they are very easy to pick up and put down. I can recommend the 'Murdle' books where you use logic to solve murders.
chiskss_@reddit
Depending on your job, you could try learning something new related to your field—maybe take an online course or read articles to stay updated. If you have some downtime, organizing your workspace or planning your goals for the week can also be productive. And if it’s appropriate, connecting with coworkers or brainstorming ideas for projects can make the time fly by!
bobsand13@reddit
is this teleperfomance by any chance?
Durzo_Blintt@reddit
You need to get access to an email at work, if you can't then maybe a usb with the files on. Send/bring in some pdfs of books. That way you can read looking at your monitor without being seen looking unprofessional which I assume is the issue with the book.
With the usb though you have to check a bit first... What's the IT guy like, what kind of security they have and how strict the company is. I've been in some that don't do anything but others were strict.
LupercalLupercal@reddit
Buy a second phone
DementedDon@reddit
Surely you have a second phone? What if you rocked up with a laptop? They could lock your phone away but you could set it up as a hotspot for your laptop before it's locked away. I've got a box full of handsets, I've even got an old Sony analogue. My Nokia 702 still works.
Chickenofthewoods95@reddit
Buy a second phone ? Or is there cameras ?
Buddy-Matt@reddit
Lots of people suggesting things you can do on the computer or on the internet.
Mostly great suggestions, but I'd caution to ensure you're not falling fouls of any computer use policies first. The sort of company that's security/image/trust conscious enough to get you to lock your phone away, rather than allowing you to keep it in your pocket, is exactly the sort of company to have strict IT policies. And unlikely to take kindly to a "better to ask forgiveness" approach.
I'd second the people saying training. Not only will it be an easier sell to the people probably monitoring your machine, it'll also be the key to getting out of there to somewhere more lenient. Just make sure they're cool with you doing it (I can't see why not) first - which will be easier again if the training is related to your sector.
Beyond that, ask if anyone has any busy work to help out with. It'll pass the time and won't ruffle any feathers.
turkishhousefan@reddit
For the love of god don't go plugging your personal USB storage into a work computer, as some are suggesting.
FeralSquirrels@reddit
Depending on how locked-down things are (given your phone is taken away), if you can bring an e-reader/tablet with you that you've popped some material on, you can read using that.
Failing that, check if you can access things like the Open University when on the network - as if you can, as well as accessing other online educational sites, you could likely easily do some further self development.
Obviously depends on what you actually want to do or aim for, but still it's a thought.
earthw2002@reddit
If you’re not interested in getting more work and you’re unable to read a book, trying writing one? I mean it wouldn’t have to be publishable, just something to kill the time.
thirdwavez@reddit
Practice thinking nothing. This skill will serve you well.
the_sneaky_one123@reddit
Honestly I would look for a new job if possible.
A job with a lot of downtime can affect you a lot more than you think. Under Stimulation can do a number on your mental health, especially if you don't have your usual distractions.
Also the fact that they lock away your phone is a red flag, wtf is that.
gjham@reddit
BBC have a section on the website called long reads. It’s got a wide range of stories. Kept me entertained on boring receptionist shifts! Failing that the New York Times website had the wordle, connections, etc.
Captain_Kruch@reddit
How about actually doing your job rather than sitting there doing nothing?
ORNG_MIRRR@reddit
Use the kindle online reader. Runs in a browser.
Slyfoxuk@reddit
Idk what your gcse are like but if you want to retake any you could study for core subject (maths, english, science etc). Or if there is a skill you want to build on you could do some additional learning in the meantime, maybe if there is a certificate you can do related to your work? Open university do heckin big physical books for lots of subjects.
That or you could do something recreational like drawing if that's your kinda thing
RevHolyOne@reddit
Online training , plenty of free sources on line . Get ready for the next job
lengthy_prolapse@reddit
This. I'd do some data analyst, database or coding courses and get myself a better paid job.
Smeeble09@reddit
W3 schools is a good site to learn various coding, and ita free.
I'm doing SQL and Python currently.
thatstoomuchsauce@reddit
Ask your boss if there is anything else you can do ("I've already finished my tasks, can I take on more responsibilities?") or help your colleagues if you can. If not, take a notebook or a diary and plan out your day/week/year, practice drawing, journal your thoughts, or try to write a story or poem (doesn't have to be good!)
SlothsNeverGetIll@reddit
Can you ask to do some work-funded training which relates to your role, such as Pitman? They may say you need to have passed probation first, bit worth a try.
Alexander-Wright@reddit
Is your phone locked away nearby?
You could connect to it with a Bluetooth headset or earphones, and discretely play an audiobook or just music.
Most headsets have controls to pause the audio/ adjust the volume.
Straight_Award_3512@reddit
Portable MP3 player stuffed with audio books.
Put a Bluetooth earbud into one ear.
GrandWazoo0@reddit
Get a second phone. When they ask to lock up your phone give them the dummy phone, then browse Reddit all day on your real phone
FidelityBob@reddit
Sitting behind the reception desk with people walking by? How long will that work for?
xxxxsteven@reddit
Mp3 player Old school. Not a phone
catfordbeerclub@reddit
Personally I would be looking for a new job. Company sounds dreadful.
LDNLibero@reddit
They take away your phone? What if someone calls in an emergency?
Very weird work practice. I've never had that even when working retail and hospitality
dibblah@reddit
Seriously? You were allowed your phone on the shop floor in retail? I never was - you left all personal belongings in your locker. At one place you could get your pockets searched when you clocked out.
Presumably as op is a receptionist they have a phone just there at their desk that can be rung if an emergency.
And sometimes you just are uncontactable. I've worked somewhere with no mobile signal for four years. If anyone needs me, they just gotta wait.
LDNLibero@reddit
I appear to have worked with very relaxed managers. Didn't realise this was uncommon
dibblah@reddit
Did you work for big companies or independents? In my experience it was the big companies (supermarkets, dept stores etc) that had strong policies.
LDNLibero@reddit
Couple of independent trainer shops. Mostly I've worked hospitality because of tips which helped when I was a student
TheToolman04@reddit
I've had this happen when working on MoD sites. Some areas are considered above sensitive and as such anything that could be used as a recording device of any kind, needs to be stored away.
SISCP25@reddit
Quite common in defence and cyber security industries
CheekyYoghurts@reddit
In an emergency they would just call the actual reception...
IansGotNothingLeft@reddit
I had the same receptionist job, it was soul destroying. It took 3 months before they realised that I was a pointless waste of money and people can answer their own damn phones. Them letting me go was the best thing that ever happened to me, because I walked out of there and got straight on the Internet to find my current job, which I love. So I'd search job sites if your Internet access will enable it.
To answer your question properly though. I used to ask other people for jobs they needed doing. It was mostly filing and stuffing invoices into envelopes. One time they allowed me to fill in data on a spreadsheet. I really went to town and fixed the sheet with formulas and colours. Thought that would show them that I am useful for things other than answering the phone. But nope.
Run. If you haven't got the qualifications to go elsewhere, do a free online course and blag your CV.
Android_slag@reddit
I'm not in any way suggesting you need to but, I do know a chap who used the BBC bitesize to improve his maths in work.... Plenty of people have studied online courses at work. Might be worth checking with IT admin if it's allowed first (not management as they'll find you more work!!)
bopeepsheep@reddit
If you have a personal drive on the computer, open a Word doc and write. Stories, to do lists, fanfic, rude limericks, your memoirs, anything. You may not think you can write, but practising is good discipline and you'll improve, even if you delete the first zillion attempts. Just don't write anything you'll get fired for if the wrong person sees it!
Mediocre_Bridge_9787@reddit
Ask the boss for any other work you can do. Show some initiative
Great_Cucumber2924@reddit
Mindfulness exercises like concentrating on your breath for ten breaths. Noticing what’s in the room in more detail. And if you’re a woman, kegels.
pocahontasjane@reddit
Pelvic floor exercises are good for everyone!
Scarred_fish@reddit
Kegels are equally, if not more important, for men.
Droidy934@reddit
Books of Sudoku
anotherotherx@reddit
Get another phone and stop messing around
Buddy-Matt@reddit
This sounds like a brilliant way to get fired
sjcuthbertson@reddit
Then they'd have to lock that one up too... The org evidently has a policy of no smartphone use by the receptionist.
Ok_Journalist_2289@reddit
Learn and practice foreign language.
Just don't bonjour anyone whilst lost in the moment on the phone.
People will be interested in speaking to you also if you start randomly speaking French or whatever as they pass reception.
KublaiWay@reddit
Crank it in the toilets.
Normal_Cantaloupe925@reddit
You should watch this documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJkpKJguWbY
Mad-Max999666@reddit
Reddit.
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