Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Forgotten Employee (2002)

sites.google.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 130 posts

Re: Forgotten Employee (2002)

#61

Post by Viliam1234 »

bee_rider wrote: post #39
throwaway1022 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What surprises me is that almost always these people don't use their free time to do something productive Relatable. I am at a job currently where I can get past by working 3 hours a day. But what do I do with rest of time...well not much. And I felt the same way during Covid when WFH started. If you had told me a month prior to that that I'll be able to save 3 hours extra every day from mindless commute, in office…

We're very social animals, I wonder if the aimless surfing is the "interact with people" instinct misfiring. I've noticed that when I have a choice, the tasks that I pick first are the ones that somebody else will see the results of. It'd be interesting to hear the experience of a couple friends who'd taken a couple months off and worked together on a project. I bet they'd be pretty productive. Although it would be h…

I guess people are different. I know a few people who are extremely productive and do not seem like they need someone to discuss it with. But for me, it is exactly as you describe. Taking a few months off and working together with a friend seems like a perfect plan.

I wonder if this might be related to ADHD. I mean, difficulty to focus on the task, unless there is someone else who you know will want to see the results.

Re: Forgotten Employee (2002)

#62

Post by 5555624 »

soneca wrote: post #28

Off-topic > ” In outlook, an EMail appeared with my name in the "Courtesy Copy" field” I always thought CC was for Carbon Copy.

> I always thought CC was for Carbon Copy.

Originally, it did. Back when we didn't have computers in the office, it was a copy made using carbon paper, as the original was being typed on a typewriter. ("BCC" was Blind Carbon Copy.)

I had always thought a "Courtesy Copy" had specific legal meaning and was a copy of a filing sent to the judge and/or other parties when a case was filed.

Re: Forgotten Employee (2002)

#63

Post by virtual_void »

dinosaurdynasty wrote: post #45
virtual_void wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I noticed the same thing in myself. Free time, especially a long block of it can just be wasted. Sometimes that’s a sort of necessary mental reset but it made me think about what I’d do when i retired. I came to the conclusion, like you, that structure is good. Without structure it’s really hard to get started on things or feel a sense of progress. Now if i take a long break i treat it like i used to back in college…

Time enjoyed is not time wasted

I think you’re right. There is a heck of a lot to be said for enjoyment regardless of productivity.

It becomes problematic, for me at least, when the thing i enjoyed becomes a sort of default mode. No longer for enjoyment, more of a reflex. Then it feels like it might be wasted.

Re: Forgotten Employee (2002)

#64

Post by ema »

dinosaurdynasty wrote: post #45
virtual_void wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I noticed the same thing in myself. Free time, especially a long block of it can just be wasted. Sometimes that’s a sort of necessary mental reset but it made me think about what I’d do when i retired. I came to the conclusion, like you, that structure is good. Without structure it’s really hard to get started on things or feel a sense of progress. Now if i take a long break i treat it like i used to back in college…

Time enjoyed is not time wasted

While this is true it's also easy to do things you're not really enjoying just because they require low activation energy.

Re: Forgotten Employee (2002)

#65

Post by jonah »

Happened to me to a minor degree. After a couple years at the first company I worked for, a number of very senior folks resigned - decimating a department which was a key part of the co's DNA. I transferred into that department - working under the remaining sr. staffer trying to pick up the pieces and keep thing moving ahead. Soon afterwards, the company "reorganized", selling off all their products, focusing on one "hot new thing" and moved the HQ across the country. I had been dutifully attending meetings and doing my best to keep existing project moving ahead.

Eventually, the office started emptying out as people either left, were laid off, or transferred to the new office. Finally after I was practically the only person in a wing of the building, I went to HR and asked what was to become of me. They said "Oh, we forgot about you. We'll get back to you." A few weeks later, I was offered the option of accepting a role in the re-orged company or taking a severance package. I took the payout and went on my merry way.

Re: Forgotten Employee (2002)

#66

Post by k__ »

shubhamjain wrote: post #3

I read it a while back. The story is probably fiction, but I have no trouble believing there must be shitload of people who must have worked an arrangement like that for themselves—taking paychecks without work. What surprises me is that almost always these people don't use their free time to do something productive—like picking up a hobby or up-skilling, they squander most of it. Ex: a programmer who outsourced his…

I had a year long break in 2014. I did many different things in that time.

Learned to play the bass guitar, found a partner, contributed to Firefox, took a few CS courses, etc.

Re: Forgotten Employee (2002)

#67

Post by harryvederci »

CodeSgt wrote: post #58
dinosaurdynasty wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Time enjoyed is not time wasted

I disagree. I might enjoy 2 months of sitting on my couch, smoking weed, and playing video games stoned out my gourd. That time would still be very much wasted.

Not sure if you meant it as a pun, but if so: slow clap.

Re: Forgotten Employee (2002)

#68

Post by raincom »

Just asking your reports to send you a note on what they have done the last year, would help to figure out what’s going on. Some positions are necessary to keep even if they really work two months year, due to institutional knowledge and maintenance.

Re: Forgotten Employee (2002)

#69

Post by harryvederci »

jonah wrote: post #65

Happened to me to a minor degree. After a couple years at the first company I worked for, a number of very senior folks resigned - decimating a department which was a key part of the co's DNA. I transferred into that department - working under the remaining sr. staffer trying to pick up the pieces and keep thing moving ahead. Soon afterwards, the company "reorganized", selling off all their products, focusing on one…

Do you regret asking them? Sounds like you missed out on a lot of free cash, but I guess this stupid thing called "conscience" might have spoiled the fun of that eventually anyway..

Re: Forgotten Employee (2002)

#70

Post by jonah »

harryvederci wrote: post #69
jonah wrote: post #65

Happened to me to a minor degree. After a couple years at the first company I worked for, a number of very senior folks resigned - decimating a department which was a key part of the co's DNA. I transferred into that department - working under the remaining sr. staffer trying to pick up the pieces and keep thing moving ahead. Soon afterwards, the company "reorganized", selling off all their products, focusing on one…

Do you regret asking them? Sounds like you missed out on a lot of free cash, but I guess this stupid thing called "conscience" might have spoiled the fun of that eventually anyway..

I could have possibly milked it for a couple weeks, but that was about it. (And, yes, I wouldn't have felt good about drawing a paycheck when there was no office to show up at or product to work on.)
Post reply on HN