Mixing
Slow days for a full-time consulting job [closed]
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I work remotely as a consultant for a tech company. I also go to college. Last summer I worked 9 to 5 every day, and I was constantly busy with a system they needed built. Over the school year I worked flexible hours, keeping track of each one. The same company offered me the same job for this summer, to maintain the current system. There are some big changes that need to be done coming up, but for various reasons, I cannot start work on these. The system, for the most part, runs itself now, but I'm the only one who understands it or knows how to make changes.
While the company is certainly using my system right now, they haven't asked for many changes lately. Over the past week, I've barely done any programming at all. I've been at my desk during full time hours, but I've mostly been working on other projects because there simply was not anything to do. I'm planning on not billing for these days, because I don't feel morally right doing so. At the same time, I feel I have lost a lot of time. There are countless things I could have done away from my desk during that time. Is this the correct course of action?
One thing that makes this situation even more difficult is that my boss has told me that I can set my own hours if I need to. Normally there was so much to do that this hasn't become an issue, but now it is. Has anyone else seen their full time consulting job turn into a part time one?
consultants
asked Jun 28 '14 at 2:49
user22631
162
closed as off-topic by Jim G., gnat, IDrinkandIKnowThings, Adam V, jcmeloni Jul 9 '14 at 10:55
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Real questions have answers. Rather than explaining why your situation is terrible, or why your boss/coworker makes you unhappy, explain what you want to do to make it better. For more information, click here." – Jim G., gnat, IDrinkandIKnowThings, Adam V, jcmeloni
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I work remotely as a consultant for a tech company. I also go to college. Last summer I worked 9 to 5 every day, and I was constantly busy with a system they needed built. Over the school year I worked flexible hours, keeping track of each one. The same company offered me the same job for this summer, to maintain the current system. There are some big changes that need to be done coming up, but for various reasons, I cannot start work on these. The system, for the most part, runs itself now, but I'm the only one who understands it or knows how to make changes.
While the company is certainly using my system right now, they haven't asked for many changes lately. Over the past week, I've barely done any programming at all. I've been at my desk during full time hours, but I've mostly been working on other projects because there simply was not anything to do. I'm planning on not billing for these days, because I don't feel morally right doing so. At the same time, I feel I have lost a lot of time. There are countless things I could have done away from my desk during that time. Is this the correct course of action?
One thing that makes this situation even more difficult is that my boss has told me that I can set my own hours if I need to. Normally there was so much to do that this hasn't become an issue, but now it is. Has anyone else seen their full time consulting job turn into a part time one?
consultants
asked Jun 28 '14 at 2:49
user22631
162
closed as off-topic by Jim G., gnat, IDrinkandIKnowThings, Adam V, jcmeloni Jul 9 '14 at 10:55
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Real questions have answers. Rather than explaining why your situation is terrible, or why your boss/coworker makes you unhappy, explain what you want to do to make it better. For more information, click here." – Jim G., gnat, IDrinkandIKnowThings, Adam V, jcmeloni
By "set your own hours" did he mean that you could have flex hours - start when you wanted to, even break your day into two four-hour chunks, flex around your other activities - or that your hours would essentially shorten? (Also: you could document the current system, and bill for that time. It's even good practice for your working future - software admins/programmers who document their work thorougly and clearly are very highly appreciated.)
– user22432
Jun 28 '14 at 3:08
Leigh, that's a very good point about writing documentation. And about your question: He was mostly highlighting the fact that if I needed to take a few days off for a vacation that I could. However, I believe it was assumed that I would work full time this summer, since I did last summer.
– user22631
Jun 28 '14 at 3:25
No bugs to fix, no tests to write?
– jcm
Jun 28 '14 at 3:42
1
Do you think night shift Security guards only Bill for time they catch bad guys? Do Bill! Some employees are considered "insurance", in case bad stuff happends. Try to prevent bad stuff by looking through load testing, security, bugs, etc..
– Petter Nordlander
Jun 28 '14 at 13:12
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I work remotely as a consultant for a tech company. I also go to college. Last summer I worked 9 to 5 every day, and I was constantly busy with a system they needed built. Over the school year I worked flexible hours, keeping track of each one. The same company offered me the same job for this summer, to maintain the current system. There are some big changes that need to be done coming up, but for various reasons, I cannot start work on these. The system, for the most part, runs itself now, but I'm the only one who understands it or knows how to make changes.
While the company is certainly using my system right now, they haven't asked for many changes lately. Over the past week, I've barely done any programming at all. I've been at my desk during full time hours, but I've mostly been working on other projects because there simply was not anything to do. I'm planning on not billing for these days, because I don't feel morally right doing so. At the same time, I feel I have lost a lot of time. There are countless things I could have done away from my desk during that time. Is this the correct course of action?
One thing that makes this situation even more difficult is that my boss has told me that I can set my own hours if I need to. Normally there was so much to do that this hasn't become an issue, but now it is. Has anyone else seen their full time consulting job turn into a part time one?
consultants
asked Jun 28 '14 at 2:49
user22631
162
I work remotely as a consultant for a tech company. I also go to college. Last summer I worked 9 to 5 every day, and I was constantly busy with a system they needed built. Over the school year I worked flexible hours, keeping track of each one. The same company offered me the same job for this summer, to maintain the current system. There are some big changes that need to be done coming up, but for various reasons, I cannot start work on these. The system, for the most part, runs itself now, but I'm the only one who understands it or knows how to make changes.
While the company is certainly using my system right now, they haven't asked for many changes lately. Over the past week, I've barely done any programming at all. I've been at my desk during full time hours, but I've mostly been working on other projects because there simply was not anything to do. I'm planning on not billing for these days, because I don't feel morally right doing so. At the same time, I feel I have lost a lot of time. There are countless things I could have done away from my desk during that time. Is this the correct course of action?
One thing that makes this situation even more difficult is that my boss has told me that I can set my own hours if I need to. Normally there was so much to do that this hasn't become an issue, but now it is. Has anyone else seen their full time consulting job turn into a part time one?
consultants
asked Jun 28 '14 at 2:49
user22631
162
asked Jun 28 '14 at 2:49
user22631
162
asked Jun 28 '14 at 2:49
user22631
162
asked Jun 28 '14 at 2:49
user22631
162
162
closed as off-topic by Jim G., gnat, IDrinkandIKnowThings, Adam V, jcmeloni Jul 9 '14 at 10:55
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Real questions have answers. Rather than explaining why your situation is terrible, or why your boss/coworker makes you unhappy, explain what you want to do to make it better. For more information, click here." – Jim G., gnat, IDrinkandIKnowThings, Adam V, jcmeloni
closed as off-topic by Jim G., gnat, IDrinkandIKnowThings, Adam V, jcmeloni Jul 9 '14 at 10:55
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Real questions have answers. Rather than explaining why your situation is terrible, or why your boss/coworker makes you unhappy, explain what you want to do to make it better. For more information, click here." – Jim G., gnat, IDrinkandIKnowThings, Adam V, jcmeloni
By "set your own hours" did he mean that you could have flex hours - start when you wanted to, even break your day into two four-hour chunks, flex around your other activities - or that your hours would essentially shorten? (Also: you could document the current system, and bill for that time. It's even good practice for your working future - software admins/programmers who document their work thorougly and clearly are very highly appreciated.)
– user22432
Jun 28 '14 at 3:08
Leigh, that's a very good point about writing documentation. And about your question: He was mostly highlighting the fact that if I needed to take a few days off for a vacation that I could. However, I believe it was assumed that I would work full time this summer, since I did last summer.
– user22631
Jun 28 '14 at 3:25
No bugs to fix, no tests to write?
– jcm
Jun 28 '14 at 3:42
1
Do you think night shift Security guards only Bill for time they catch bad guys? Do Bill! Some employees are considered "insurance", in case bad stuff happends. Try to prevent bad stuff by looking through load testing, security, bugs, etc..
– Petter Nordlander
Jun 28 '14 at 13:12
add a comment |Â
By "set your own hours" did he mean that you could have flex hours - start when you wanted to, even break your day into two four-hour chunks, flex around your other activities - or that your hours would essentially shorten? (Also: you could document the current system, and bill for that time. It's even good practice for your working future - software admins/programmers who document their work thorougly and clearly are very highly appreciated.)
– user22432
Jun 28 '14 at 3:08
Leigh, that's a very good point about writing documentation. And about your question: He was mostly highlighting the fact that if I needed to take a few days off for a vacation that I could. However, I believe it was assumed that I would work full time this summer, since I did last summer.
– user22631
Jun 28 '14 at 3:25
No bugs to fix, no tests to write?
– jcm
Jun 28 '14 at 3:42
1
Do you think night shift Security guards only Bill for time they catch bad guys? Do Bill! Some employees are considered "insurance", in case bad stuff happends. Try to prevent bad stuff by looking through load testing, security, bugs, etc..
– Petter Nordlander
Jun 28 '14 at 13:12
By "set your own hours" did he mean that you could have flex hours - start when you wanted to, even break your day into two four-hour chunks, flex around your other activities - or that your hours would essentially shorten? (Also: you could document the current system, and bill for that time. It's even good practice for your working future - software admins/programmers who document their work thorougly and clearly are very highly appreciated.)
– user22432
Jun 28 '14 at 3:08
By "set your own hours" did he mean that you could have flex hours - start when you wanted to, even break your day into two four-hour chunks, flex around your other activities - or that your hours would essentially shorten? (Also: you could document the current system, and bill for that time. It's even good practice for your working future - software admins/programmers who document their work thorougly and clearly are very highly appreciated.)
– user22432
Jun 28 '14 at 3:08
Leigh, that's a very good point about writing documentation. And about your question: He was mostly highlighting the fact that if I needed to take a few days off for a vacation that I could. However, I believe it was assumed that I would work full time this summer, since I did last summer.
– user22631
Jun 28 '14 at 3:25
Leigh, that's a very good point about writing documentation. And about your question: He was mostly highlighting the fact that if I needed to take a few days off for a vacation that I could. However, I believe it was assumed that I would work full time this summer, since I did last summer.
– user22631
Jun 28 '14 at 3:25
No bugs to fix, no tests to write?
– jcm
Jun 28 '14 at 3:42
No bugs to fix, no tests to write?
– jcm
Jun 28 '14 at 3:42
1
1
Do you think night shift Security guards only Bill for time they catch bad guys? Do Bill! Some employees are considered "insurance", in case bad stuff happends. Try to prevent bad stuff by looking through load testing, security, bugs, etc..
– Petter Nordlander
Jun 28 '14 at 13:12
Do you think night shift Security guards only Bill for time they catch bad guys? Do Bill! Some employees are considered "insurance", in case bad stuff happends. Try to prevent bad stuff by looking through load testing, security, bugs, etc..
– Petter Nordlander
Jun 28 '14 at 13:12
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Ask for a meeting with your boss, and work out with them an initial list of tasks/projects that needs to get done.
Since you have so much time available, you might consider getting approval to learn and apply a new technology on the job.
Your boss may have a wish list. You may have a wish list. If your boss doesn't have a wish list, cook one up for him. Ditto if you don't have a wish list.
Look into the firm's operations. Does it have disaster recovery plans in place? Does it have business continuity planning? Is it interested in exploring the cloud? etc.
You may have to look beyond the narrow confines of your job, and your boss may have to look beyond the narrow confines of your job.
answered Jun 28 '14 at 3:57
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Ask for a meeting with your boss, and work out with them an initial list of tasks/projects that needs to get done.
Since you have so much time available, you might consider getting approval to learn and apply a new technology on the job.
Your boss may have a wish list. You may have a wish list. If your boss doesn't have a wish list, cook one up for him. Ditto if you don't have a wish list.
Look into the firm's operations. Does it have disaster recovery plans in place? Does it have business continuity planning? Is it interested in exploring the cloud? etc.
You may have to look beyond the narrow confines of your job, and your boss may have to look beyond the narrow confines of your job.
answered Jun 28 '14 at 3:57
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Ask for a meeting with your boss, and work out with them an initial list of tasks/projects that needs to get done.
Since you have so much time available, you might consider getting approval to learn and apply a new technology on the job.
Your boss may have a wish list. You may have a wish list. If your boss doesn't have a wish list, cook one up for him. Ditto if you don't have a wish list.
Look into the firm's operations. Does it have disaster recovery plans in place? Does it have business continuity planning? Is it interested in exploring the cloud? etc.
You may have to look beyond the narrow confines of your job, and your boss may have to look beyond the narrow confines of your job.
answered Jun 28 '14 at 3:57
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Ask for a meeting with your boss, and work out with them an initial list of tasks/projects that needs to get done.
Since you have so much time available, you might consider getting approval to learn and apply a new technology on the job.
Your boss may have a wish list. You may have a wish list. If your boss doesn't have a wish list, cook one up for him. Ditto if you don't have a wish list.
Look into the firm's operations. Does it have disaster recovery plans in place? Does it have business continuity planning? Is it interested in exploring the cloud? etc.
You may have to look beyond the narrow confines of your job, and your boss may have to look beyond the narrow confines of your job.
answered Jun 28 '14 at 3:57
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
Ask for a meeting with your boss, and work out with them an initial list of tasks/projects that needs to get done.
Since you have so much time available, you might consider getting approval to learn and apply a new technology on the job.
Your boss may have a wish list. You may have a wish list. If your boss doesn't have a wish list, cook one up for him. Ditto if you don't have a wish list.
Look into the firm's operations. Does it have disaster recovery plans in place? Does it have business continuity planning? Is it interested in exploring the cloud? etc.
You may have to look beyond the narrow confines of your job, and your boss may have to look beyond the narrow confines of your job.
answered Jun 28 '14 at 3:57
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
answered Jun 28 '14 at 3:57
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
answered Jun 28 '14 at 3:57
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
answered Jun 28 '14 at 3:57
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
68.9k7118254
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
By "set your own hours" did he mean that you could have flex hours - start when you wanted to, even break your day into two four-hour chunks, flex around your other activities - or that your hours would essentially shorten? (Also: you could document the current system, and bill for that time. It's even good practice for your working future - software admins/programmers who document their work thorougly and clearly are very highly appreciated.)
– user22432
Jun 28 '14 at 3:08
Leigh, that's a very good point about writing documentation. And about your question: He was mostly highlighting the fact that if I needed to take a few days off for a vacation that I could. However, I believe it was assumed that I would work full time this summer, since I did last summer.
– user22631
Jun 28 '14 at 3:25
No bugs to fix, no tests to write?
– jcm
Jun 28 '14 at 3:42
1
Do you think night shift Security guards only Bill for time they catch bad guys? Do Bill! Some employees are considered "insurance", in case bad stuff happends. Try to prevent bad stuff by looking through load testing, security, bugs, etc..
– Petter Nordlander
Jun 28 '14 at 13:12