Letters to the Editor
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Simple Action - Short Form
Watch the movie Office Space. It is the story of your life. Can't wait to hear how many people think this letter is fake.
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It's been that way for me for 15 years!
Dear LW:
In 15 years on the job, I've had to do perhaps 1 year's worth of work. They just don't give me enough work, period. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it doesn't.
When I get work, I do what I know is important. I've learned to recognize what is needless bullshit. I don't do the latter, and of course, it doesn't matter, because it really did not need to be done.
I've come to this conclusion: work sucks. Unless you love what your job is, work sucks. I don't love my job. However, my job pays the bills. My job lets me live a good life. I have a life outside of my job, fortunately. If you do too, then what are you worrying about?
Listen, bro. There is no justice in this world. There is no merit system. We live in a completely corrupt world. Completely!
Would you really have chosen the kind of world into which you, and I, and everyone else was born? I sure as hell wouldn't. So, unless you are hurting someone else, then IMHO, you have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to be guilty about, and much to be grateful for. A job without work is the dream of millions and millions. Why abandon your good fortune?
Truly: relax and enjoy. You are a very lucky person in a world of shit.
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Just walking in place
For the LW, it seems that they're bored right out of their minds-start looking for another job-friends at work sometimes don't really stay friends after you've quit.
Start by going through "similar" job listings-anything to get out of the rut you're in-because someday, someone will question your being on the payroll for any reason. Then you'll get fired, and that's not fun, either. Corporations do tend to downsize periodically.
Just because the CEO can get a paycheck for not working does not mean you can do the same forever. They get wise to this kind of stuff, eventually. (God forbid they look on the Internet for unhappy employees posting letters to Salon advice columists!)
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Oh Lord...
...I have worked with people like the two of you.
There may be cogs around us that have also stopped working
Maybe, but it's more likely that the other cogs are working harder because you're not doing crap. Witness the reassigned project of the LW. If you can't find within yourself an ethical framework that demands you do your work, if it means nothing to you that projects assigned to you end up being done with someone else, if you silently gloat that your slack ass is not fired by your superiors but you ignore the fact that others on your level have to pick you up because they're internally motivated and you aren't, then do them all a favor and quit and go on the dole. Pity the poor navel-gazer, ever oblivious to the unintended consequences of his own inaction. Bah!!
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Seek Public Office
At the risk of diverting the letter thread from the main topic, I suggest the LW consider running for governor of Texas, and, if that works out, President of the United States. I know of at least one ADD-addled, work-averse empty suit for whom this strategy worked wonders, though I understand it may help to have wealthy friends and influential family in order to execute this strategy.
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Been there too.
I had a job at a smallish (20 person) company that got gobbled by a much larger (3000 person) company, although our 20 person company still ran largely autonomously. As a result of the purchase, due to a layoff and someone quitting, my office went from three people to just me.
For about a year, my work dwindled, less and less. I wasn't given any work, but I didn't really ask for any either. I was the only person who did my job (computer programming) at the 20-person company, so it's not like other people were picking up my slack. There just weren't any projects and I wasn't helping them come up with any (which I probably could've if I'd cared).
For the last six months I was there, I realized the futility of sitting in the office by myself all day and just forwarded my office phone to my cell phone, and eventually stopped even bothering to stay near home during working hours. If I got a call (maybe three times a week) I'd just call back when I got to the next quiet place. I can't possibly imagine that they didn't know. "Sorry my office landline is cutting out and there's occasional traffic noise... how weird!" Never even had to say that. No one ever asked.
Anyway, it became totally demoralizing. Collecting full paychecks every day to hang out with friends was AWESOME except that I just started to feel like a scammer and kinda useless. I finally gave them two months notice and felt better immediately. I felt so much better at my new job and I didn't even really mind not getting to hang out with friends all day. And it was enough of a change to reset me back into a habit of actually doing work.
I'm not saying you should quit before you find another job, but I definitely think you should be looking. The change very well might help you get the kick in the ass you need to start working again. Plus it will probably be hard to be such a slacker as a new person in a different environment.
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Ummm...
Jobs. Yours. Do. Hard. How?
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Symptom of a bigger problem?
I recently stopped working, too. Unfortunately, I work for myself, so no work means no income, which is a dangerous situation, as there is no one else to pay my bills but me.
For me, it was the result of depression. My therapist also recommended I read the book, Driven to Distraction, about ADD, because I told her how too many projects put me into a state of paralysis.
I recommend you read this book to see if you recognize yourself. Apparently people with ADD need structure and continual encouragement/checking in. Even though you mention friends in your workplace, it sounds like you are isolated, since no one is calling your bluff.
I suggest you seek professional help while you are still on the company dime and have health insurance (I presume). I have an uncle who stopped working for 4 years -- his wife left him and he is hardly participating in society in a healthy way.
One can be taken over by inertia. Take some steps to help yourself while you still can. Good luck!