My boring job - a rant and request for advice

[micki76]

Does anyone else have a job that’s boring? I work for a seasonal company and our business is nearly overwhelming in the summer, but the fall and winter is a dead, dead, dead time of the year. I get so bored and stressed out from nothing to do. I know everybody would kill for my problem, but it really is annoying.
I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I bring other stuff from home to work on, what if my boss feels I’m “dead weight” and lets me go? (business was very slow this summer) But if I don’t bring stuff from home to do, I die of boredom and get stressed out trying to “look busy” in front of the boss. Her office is right behind me and she faces out to my desk and can see every move I make. She’s really the best boss in the world, but I feel bad for not having anything to do (like it’s my fault) and it’s only going to get worse as the winter goes on.
In January or February we’ll start printing our flyers and stuff for the spring season, but until then I have zip to do.
Last year I completely re-organized our filing system and built databases for all our info and entered EVERYTHING for the last 5 years (only these years are available to me) into those databases. I have done all the organizing I can do. There is no more.

My question is what do I do?

I get great kudos for my organization skills and all the stuff I’ve done to make the office run smoother, plus I’ve been given some outrageously fantastic raises (that I deserved ), so I am recognized. I’m just at a loss as to what to do now.

[Soledad]

Talk to your boss. Tell her you're ready to take on more. That should impress her even more!

[micki76]

Well, see thats the thing. She's a bit of a control freak and only likes to let go of a couple of things at a time. She and her husband own the company and he'd prefer that she teach me everything and let me run it the majority of the time so that they can travel. She will never do that though. It's like the company is her lifeline. I'm hoping that with her 1st granchild coming in 2-4 weeks, she'll let go of something!! It's just me and her in the office and I really, really like her. These slow months just suck the life out of me.

Maybe I'll suggest that she teach me some more of her duties so that she can spend time with the new grandbaby when he comes!

[Fuzzy317]

I like the grandbaby suggestion.

Along that same line:
Does your boss take a vacation or is she out sick at times?
Who does things then, or does company close then?

She could teach you what to do, and then let you try some of them with supervision. Not sure if there is a rush at times to get things done, this would allow you to help her get caught up.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Or you could do what I'm doing and take some classes online. Try and find something that will benefit you at work - but not something that will threaten your boss - and try and show them how it will benefit them also. Explain how you have some free time because of the seasonal nature of your job - which they should understand. It's possible that they will be more than happy to let you further your education while at work. It could be their "contribution" to let you do it at work (instead of actually reimbursing you for tuition). It's worth a try and they benefit because they keep a great employee and you get to further your education.

Good luck!

[micki76]

Good idea! I think I'll try the onlinse classes.

Scott - She never goes on vacation other than a long weekend. She's a total workaholic and lives for this place now that her kids are grown.

When she does go out of town or has a Dr appt, we have to hurry and get it all done before she leaves.

And she trusts me more than most employees she's had. She's been burned by a couple of people pretty badly.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[lovemyshiba]

I'm sorry I have no advice for you Micki, but I can sympathize a little.
I cannot stand being bored at work--I hate it!!! I work in a restaurant, and when I'm not busy I am miserable. I had a job at a pre-school, doing after school care, and I hated it because it was so boring!!! I had to get back into a fast paced environment!! My husband thinks I'm nuts--he works in sales, and sits around all day--I have to be doing something.

We're busy now because of football season, but around Feb/March is our slow time, and I hate it!!!!!