Do any of you have government jobs where it feels you have very little to do?

18 Comments

1. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 1:37PM UTC

   I do not, but I have friends that have worked in government (both state positions) that have the same complaint. One for Colorado and another for Virginia.

   Both have said it's like "inefficiency is baked in" and no one is motivated to streamline or do anything extra. Pretty much a comfy, free-ride, with guaranteed pay.

   Why do you ask?

2. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 4:13PM UTC

   I just took a state government job and I have very little to do. I started last November, but maybe they are just easing me into it.

3. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 2:01PM UTC

   Yes, I started this position recently. Gets boring some times, but after years of burning myself out in ungrateful positions, I’m ready to stay in a calm environment for a while.

   Could be less intellectually or technically challenging, but is peaceful.

4. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 2:28PM UTC

   I feel the same way right now, and I am not complaining

5. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 2:41PM UTC

   I have worked for three public sector jobs and they were all incredibly busy/nonstop. However, if I found myself in your situation, I would spend a lot of time in professional development/continuing education, online or maybe in person. Consider returning to school - you could probably do some classes and coursework during “work” hours.

6. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 3:41PM UTC

   I have never worked a government job, but I have spent my career in various nonprofits and have often found this to be the case to too--that there is often very little to do OR all of a sudden the whole place is on fire and everyone must rush to complete everything.

7. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 4:36PM UTC

   I suppose that depends on the nature of the job. Casting a wide net over government employees as people who do nothing on the taxpayer's dime is highly disingenuous. I know a lot of government workers who work their a$$es off and go home exhausted every day because there are not enough people to do the job, and they cannot hire more (usually for budget reasons). If you've been to a Social Security office lately, you would see that this agency is understaffed. These are people in jobs that DOGE seems to be targeting first. The workers are available when needed, but during their downtime, they engage in continuing education, research, and planning, so please get off your high horse and be grateful they are available to you when your house catches fire or a tornado strikes.

8. AnonymousJanuary 8,2025 at 4:45PM UTC

   Thank you!!! Government worker here in administrative support. I support four people (I kid you not)!! I’m so overworked and stressed out it’s affecting me mentally and physically. The lower on the food chain you go, the harder government workers are working!

9. LadeybuggJanuary 9,2025 at 6:25PM UTC

   AMEN, SISTER!

10. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 4:41PM UTC

    Is there something you can do during downtime? Is there any continuing education you can take advantage of? Can you find a different agency where you feel you could be productive? I know a lot of government jobs will look at internal government transfers before anyone else, so it depends on the level of government you are working at.

11. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 6:56PM UTC

    I’m in a local government job where it is super busy and we are challenged with more work than we can do. It can back up at times, and there are plenty of folks working 50+ hours. A lot of it is interesting and genuinely service-based.

    That said, there are clearly some ineffectual processes and departments within g that add some truth to the stereotypes of inefficiency.

    My sense is that it’s a mix of high and low-stress/volume work that averages out to a more relaxed pace. But there are plenty of pockets of smart, competent folks trying to keep the boat upright. It’s not universally one thing.

12. Betty VandenBosch-WarrickJanuary 8,2025 at 1:23PM UTC

    I think it's less Lazy Girl and more Lazy Director. The problem with governments is that they have a budget. And when you have a budget, you spend it. There's little incentive to actually come in under budget. You never know when cuts will come from on high and you have to lay off, so the general mindset is to over-staff and wait. Then in many states they are union, so it's hard without big budget cuts to cull staff. You have to reassign what little work was being done and you'll get pushback from the staff who has to pick up more work. Plus the last in last out rules mean you'll likely not get rid of the persons that weren't doing much, you'll get rid of your new hires, who are probably working quite hard and then try to get the old staff to do that work.

13. AnonymousJanuary 8,2025 at 1:45PM UTC

    I used to live in the state capital of Ohio. (tons of government workers). I(nongovernment worker) quit taking a lot of local training classes because you would have all of these government workers who were required to take so many training hours each year in there. They usually were disruptive and at lunch time were harassing the instructor for their certificate so they could leave and play for the rest of the day. Then tell their boss they were in class for 8 eight (paid hours) and received their training.

    Also had a cousin who worked for a local government and at reunions and funerals she would talk about how they had to spend their entire budget each year or the next year it would be cut. (So basically people were paid to sit around) That is a problem. Things happen from year to year and you may have budgeted for it, but not need it. You should not be penalized in the next year and say you did for xx dollars in 2024 so 2025 should be the same. No, 2025 budget should be based on goals and expectations of activities needed in 2025 and the cost to achieve those goals.

14. AnonymousJanuary 10,2025 at 8:25PM UTC

    I've worked for the government of two different countries and in the private sector, and I can say with certainty that "use it or lose it" budgets are a thing everywhere. It would be a dream if you would just request what you need to achieve your goals, but most places say that your goals need to conform to your budget, and your budget is based on historical spend / need. It's a crazy cycle. Also, to be clear, headcount budgets and fiscal year spending budgets are two different things.

15. AnonymousJanuary 8,2025 at 7:27PM UTC

    Who said is ineffective or lazy? I’m working every minute I’m being paid for. I just said is another pace, smaller projects. I don’t see anybody around me being lazy. Professional career works have ethics to follow no matter the nature of the job. You are judging from a very high horse, and reaching conclusions nobody told you.

16. E CJanuary 9,2025 at 1:23PM UTC

    You have repeated this false stereotype twice now. On behalf of my fellow government employees, I will thank you to stop calling us "Lazy Girls." There are bad apples in every job, including yours, but 99% show up and work hard every day. The OP is *asking for a challenge,* which proves she is anything but lazy. Step off.

17. Kathy SijanJanuary 9,2025 at 2:24PM UTC

    Oh no, there is so much to do. I worked in the private sector for 25+ years before working in state government. And our leadership is very supportive of suggestions. AND I always ask if there is a project needed to be done. Recently updating Policy and Procedures was MUCH needed.

18. LadeybuggJanuary 9,2025 at 6:24PM UTC

    I work in state government and I have the workload of 3 people. I finally was able to get additional support (a position that was vacant but remained unfilled), but only after a huge battle with upper management. I almost had to take a leave of absence for mental health reasons. It’s still overwhelming but it is an improvement over practically drowning.