New employee gets forgotten after boss is fired, collects paycheck with no work to do for months: 'I'm riding the wave till it crests'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jun 23, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

Imagine getting paid to do absolutely nothing. It's kind of the best case scenario, especially if you're coming from previous office environments where you're overworked, underpaid, and encouraged to go above and beyond with little reward. 

That's the world that this author was coming from before he was hired by a large company. In what seemed at first like an unfortunate occurrence, the boss who hired the author was let go not long after the author was onboarded. It didn't take long after his now former boss's final day before the author realized that he had zero oversight. He played the role of a good employee for a little and asked around to see if he could take on any projects, but everyone assumed that the 15 minutes of actual work on his current plate was enough to last each week. That's when the author took the opportunity to reward himself for finding the perfect working environment—one where he got paid to do absolutely nothing.

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from members of the online community!

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10519109120
    via Unsplash+ (Alyssa Jane)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • It's worth acknowledging that the author is fully aware that this dynamic cannot last forever, but he wants to ride the wave until it crests and until his superiors discover that he does basically nothing all day. What's even more amusing is that the author refuses to look for other jobs during this time. He just wants to go into his private office and chill all day. Doesn't sound too bad to me!

  • 02
    This is happening to me right now I was hired in October for one of the biggest property owners in the world. The person that hired me, her position was eliminated the week before I started. I was
    via jerichomega
  • 03
    brought around the office by someone from a different department. I've been sitting in an office behind the fired lady's office all alone for months. Doing literally nothing. I've asked around,
    via jerichomega
  • 04
    I've emailed people. NOTHING. I show up 3 days a week, "work" from home 2 days a week; and get paid every Friday. I haven't said a word to anyone in months. I'm
    via jerichomega
  • 05
    riding the wave till it crests. I don't know how it's possible that no one gives me any assignments or even really emails me and yet here I am.
    via jerichomega
  • 06
    EDIT: to answer frequent questions 1. I make just under six figures 2. I'm on the east coast of America
    via jerichomega
  • 07
    3. I go in because the job was setup as 3 days in office, two days remote. There's a badge swipe system and I don't want to be fired for lack of attendance if they check the swipes. Job is only about 10. minutes from my house.
    via jerichomega
  • 08
    4. I contact my dept head twice a week with spreadsheets on our department payroll. That's all I do and it takes about 15 minutes a week. I BCC the office coordinator on these emails.
    via jerichomega
  • 09
    5. I'm being intentionally vague about what my job is and no I will not tell you and no, I will not hire you.
    via jerichomega
  • 10
    6. Yes, it's very Seinfeld-ish. I feel like Costanza working the Penske file.
    via jerichomega
  • 11
    EDIT 2: 1. I'm not getting a 2nd job while I'm doing this. I'm lazy as F and I don't even wanna do this job, nevermind another 2. It's not Twitter.
    via jerichomega
  • 12
    3. To get time off, I submit a request in the system we use here & copy the office admin on all of them. They've always been approved and there's never been a issue.
    via jerichomega
  • 13
    4. I do swipe into the building but I don't have to swipe out So, yes of course I leave early a lot. And it's starting to get warm around here so the golf gods will be calling to me. 5. I don't think I'm Penske material.
    via jerichomega
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10519109376
    via Unsplash+ (Alyssa Jane)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 15
    unicorn8dragon. Just CYA for yourself OP. Document efforts to get work (with personal copies kept), and try and find token work as able (and document those efforts).
    via jerichomega
  • 16
    Then it will be really hard for them to dispute anything down the line. Otherwise keep a low profile and enjoy the ride
    via jerichomega
  • 17
    jerichomega OP. Yup all has been taken care of. I email my boss "Dave" I BCC the office admin and I send all communication to myself.
    via jerichomega
  • 18
    badatmetroid I saw a documentary on ghost employees once. Wild stuff. This sort of thing happens more than you'd think. One company did an audit and found an employee who was paid but hadn't been to work in years.
    via jerichomega
  • 19
    They fired him. Dude had the to show up the next pay day and complain that he wasn't paid.
    via jerichomega
  • 20
    If I were you I'd be taking online classes while simultaneously keeping my head down. Ride that wave!
    via jerichomega
  • 21
    devilsmile7. As long as you are contacting "Dave". Keep a record of calls emails texts. Whatever. Make up work if you have to and keep riding the wave
    via jerichomega
  • 22
    jerichomega OP. I've been sending him emails with excel reports twice a week of the employees from our department we pay. Takes me about ten minutes. That's really all I do.
    via jerichomega

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