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I'm at that stage of my career and life where I am starting to 'coast' at work.
Now, this doesn't mean doing the bare minimum or expending little effort. It means doing just the right amount (not too much, not too little) but also getting the work done. If there's any extra work or projects that need to get done, yes I'll do it. But it's all about hitting that comfort zone and leaving work at the office.
I know this concept is offensive to the 'alphas' out there who think anyone that isn't putting in 12 hours a day minimum and then working off hours at home and the weekends, are 'slackers' who should be let go.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing just the right amount of work to get by comfortably – not to little, not too much – then you aren’t alone. Last year, a survey of 3,000 people found a third say they’re “coasting” at work.
At face value, admitting to coasting in the workplace seems like a bad thing. Unlike others, who are putting in extra hours every day and tearing their hair out with stress, you’re plodding along, leaving on time when you’ve finished your day’s work. But is that really such a terrible thing?
Don't kid yourself. Most people do as little work as they can get away with.
It's all about keeping up appearances. Ever notice how people tend to goof around on the job while the boss isn't around but when he shows up, they get down to business? Yeah, I've worked with MANY people like that.
My job has a quota. There are minimal advancement opportunities and you might get like $300 bonus if you go significantly above the quota, so there is absolutely no benefit to doing way better than the quota. Could I be some speed demon if I really applied myself? Yes. Is there any tangible benefit? No. I get my work done, am in the middle of the pack in terms of meeting the quota, and my quality is decent. That is all they are going to get from me.
People that are coasting, are often increasing the number of people needed to get the work done. Some companies have gone as far as firing the 1 or 2 people at the bottom of the work production each month
I'm getting close to retirement, and I've eased up on the accelerator some. I wouldn't call it coasting, but I'm not going to "take one for the team" anymore.
What I mean by that is: Management issues lots of rules. Sometimes you have to go around them to get the job finished on schedule. This could be as simple as "acquiring" some IT equipment you need outside the normal channels to meet schedule (because it takes facilities 4 months to get around to it), or something more like working thru required breaks (without recording it as such) to get everything done.
I follow the rules now. If management puts an obstacle in front of me, I'm no longer jumping over it. If we have a 6-month-to-release deadline, and purchasing can't get my lab equipment to me until month 4, then management has a problem -- not me.
I am consciously coasting. I have worked at my company for almost four years now. I am paid decently but my health has suffered due to very late hours and the stress. I have reached a point where if I am not in the office, I try to keep it off my radar. I picked up a side hustle by accident trying to keep my mind off my job and I am actually now focusing more on that in my free time.
Never work hard unless the company you work for rewards meritocracy, hard work etc. If you pull your weight, become valuable and go nowhere and the company continues to reward the leeches, lazies, cronies, relatives etc.. the company does not DESERVE Your 100 percent effort.
Some people coast because in many places, it doesn't matter how hard you work or not. If you aren' connected, you're stuck . Most companies only look at "hard work" as a sign of weakness and exploit those hard workers.
People think hard work is going to save them from layoff? ROFLMAO.
Look around and see how many useless bums avoid the layoffs, continue getting promoted, etc and how many unconnected valuable, skilled workers got the shaft during the last recession and since . And tell me again, "working hard will avoid layoffs". Thats just an old wives tale place by management to "Keep the sheep in line". Little to no truth to it whatsoever.
I'm not taking on additional responsibility without additional authority and an off cycle raise. Period.
My health is priority now. I've sacrificed too much in the past 12 months.
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