I Work Less than 10 Hours Per Week and Get Paid for 40 - Am I Crossing a Line Here?

Ltheengineer on 09/10/2021 - 21:04
Last edited 09/10/2021 - 21:12 by 1 other user

Sooooo. I work as a civil engineer (hydrologist) and due to covid we got working from home since mid 2020 and still occasionally do. Put shit ton of hours in the past two years automating most of my work to the point I only need to touch up the report and do some checks. That means I’m only working about 10-25% of the time and still getting lots done (to a point the boss man questioned if I was burning myself out). And being a member of the r/antiwork, I don’t have much guilt booking in 40 hrs a week (overtime sometimes) while only working a day. I just wanted some validation from strangers to continue on doing what I do.

All good to go??

Poll Options

  • 808
    Yes
  • 317
    Hell No
Education & Work

Comments

  • MND on 12/10/2021 - 12:00

    As long as you do your work and it's to a quality that the boss doesn't complain then do what you want.
    To me however your work ethic makes me believe two things:

    Your efficient and find ways to make a process quicker.
    Your also NOT a team player cause
    I don't see hear you sharing your refines processes with anyone. Your also narcissistic by gloating over your own ability and not sharing it with your team!

    If there is anything you should learn from this is promote your solutions and make it easier for everyone in your team. Now that makes a great worker!

  • dannyboi on 12/10/2021 - 12:18

    Seems fair enough so long as you’re still working/readily available for the remaining time.

    If those automated tools have been developed as part of your work, you may want to check if it’s ok to take it with you as it might be company IP now.

    It sounds like you have an opportunity to sell/market your automated tools to make it better for the industry.

  • trapper on 12/10/2021 - 12:37
    +1

    The results count more than the hours, but you may be be stifling your career progression by not taking on more responsibility when you have the capability.

    Although if you have r/antiwork mindset maybe you don't want any more progression, it's ok to get comfortable and cruise.

    It is kind of unethical if your hours are being billed to customers though.

  • doofie69 on 12/10/2021 - 13:15

    I know the industry and yes tuflow modellers get paid too much. Often they do nothing but G
    Dial in model inputs, ask designers for a suface DEM. Hit run on the peak storm. Write a report.

    The challange is when the model doesn't work and actually providing smart practical and real world buildable solutions for the civil engineers to implement

  • misu p on 12/10/2021 - 13:48
    +2

    You are fine, pay should be on output not time worked, also it is good to work smart not work hard.

  • Pootie Tang on 12/10/2021 - 14:43
    +2

    Wouldnt be billing o/t

  • Jacked on 12/10/2021 - 15:14

    Why don't you commercialise your automation and then you won't even have to work 10 hours?

  • Ponka on 12/10/2021 - 15:33
    +1

    I respect it!

    Just hope your management doesn't scroll through Ozbargain.

  • misterbung on 12/10/2021 - 23:37

    Nah mate, get yours. (profanity) em if they can't see the oversight.

  • serpserpserp on 13/10/2021 - 07:45

    I'm fine with you doing it. But I think if you are working 10 hours a week you shouldn't book overtime. That is probably pushing it.

    Do you sit at your WFH desk for most of that time though? Or just take three day mid week vacations?

  • elli0t on 13/10/2021 - 08:27

    That's awesome mate but insure about the overtime, I'd need more information/context.
    I'm also not sure if the Poll is "Yes / Hell No" to "Am I Crossing a Line Here?" or "All good to go??" haha

  • Big Lenny on 13/10/2021 - 09:43
    +1

    OP is so efficient he dosent even need to respond to his post

  • djones145 on 13/10/2021 - 10:24

    couldnt you off shore the rest and just kick back and collect the money

  • [Deactivated] on 13/10/2021 - 14:19
    +2

    Your contract will stipulate a number of hours per week most likely. If it does, you're breaking your contract and would be liable to actually repay the money you fraudulently obtained if caught because you are not actually working x hours per week - regardless of any value provided.

    You say you sometimes do overtime. Assuming that you only ever do 10 hours, then this means that 15 hours for you is 5 hours of overtime, which is still less than 50% of a usual work week, how do you justify submitting for overtime here?

    Whilst I can't speak to the legalities of the first statement because we haven't seen your contract, the second one is most certainly defrauding your organisation. By submitting overtime, you are no longer talking about "provided value" or "outcome focus" like other people have commented as a way to validate your question. Since you aren't working the standard hours required, you cannot submit overtime, so yeah, fraud.

    • sparklepony on 13/10/2021 - 18:15

      I just have no clue how some people don't have an issue taking money that they are not even entitled to.

      • [Deactivated] on 13/10/2021 - 20:36
        +1

        He's justified it to himself. Just like how scanning meat as avocados isn't stealing because woolies makes so much money. He did say he's a follower of the Reddit subreddit /r/antiwork which he seems to have taken as getting a fulltime salary while working as little as possible by defrauding his company.

  • CheapskateQueen on 13/10/2021 - 15:54
    +2

    why are you booking overtime? overtime is for when you have to work more than your hours; yet you have free time. not sure why youre claiming overtime.

    the rest is your employer's problem for not giving you enough work

  • edy4eva on 13/10/2021 - 15:55

    No, you’re are not crossing any line.
    Yes, you’re good to go.

    Not sure what your poll is asking exactly, but I would be worried if this post was automated in any way.

  • sparklepony on 13/10/2021 - 18:10

    I mean it looks like you DO WANT to brag about it and considering how much you guys get paid it's bragging.

    Wanting validation from strangers and you are a civil engineer (hydrologist)…………………………

    And sometimes paid overtime hahaha please do tell us why you said you don't have much guilt because it looks like you need that validation 😆

  • casp82 on 13/10/2021 - 19:31
    +1

    This so reminds me of the guy on whirlpool a few years back. I think he was an engineer as well.

  • Shiny Mew on 13/10/2021 - 22:30
    +1

    Lucky you. Like most professionals, I work 60 hours a week but get paid for 40.

    Not a job in which I can really automate more than 5% of my role either.

  • buckethat on 16/10/2021 - 23:34

    With you till the overtime comment. Thats rather scummy.

  • fbzbenny on 21/10/2021 - 17:00

    Quite a few comments here mentioning output is most important - I might have to disagree. I believe input is greater, the more you (smartly) put in, the better the reward will be. Be it additional self-improvement etc., you have an opportunity to be put to work in an area of expertise more relatable to your capabilities. IE, you are not suited to a role your colleagues are performing at forty hours that only takes you ten. Whether that new position is management, analysis etc., I have no idea.

  • kiriakoz on 22/10/2021 - 17:31

    The first thing I do whenever I start a new role is see how much of it I can automate. I'll happily work hard to begin with, but any repetitive task must be somewhat automated. You, my friend, are doing a good job.

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