New software developer finishes a major project early but is left with no work for weeks, spending days bored in his cubicle and wondering if he’s the only one paid to do almost nothing: “Seriously, is work like this for everyone?”

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Nov 13, 2025 10:00 PM EST

No, it is most certainly not. We're kidding…Everyone's workload will differ depending on industry, positioning, and personal trust. It's definitely normal to have some days that are slower than others, and while some people see that as a privilege, this man is starting to memorize each of his fingerprints from scratch. The one thing worse than being completely and utterly overwhelmed by your job, is being underwhelmed by it, forced to twiddle your thumbs until 5 pm on Friday finally arrives…However, this man soon begins to question if this is a universal experience, or is he the only one who gets generously paid to do almost nothing…?

One day, his only task in 8 hours was to book a singular flight, and no matter how long he debated back and forth, whether his boss requested an extra carry-on or not, that still did not fill nearly a tenth of the day. So we guess learning the script to The Office is his only option, unless of course, he finds another way that will encourage his bosses to pile his desks with To-Do's!

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  • But there are only so many times he can ask for more work, yet the distribution never seems to ‘last’…Some people could argue that he's living the dream, but feeling like you have no purpose at work will often override the temporary buzz of being stress-free. So we recommend looking elsewhere for that ‘purpose’ if his company is unable to prove his need…Because the next thing you know, they could turn around and fire him for lack of independent initiative. 

  • Employee sleeping at his computer
    via shotprime

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Am I the only one who gets paid to do almost nothing?

    I'm new to the corporate world, and I'm starting to feel like I don't understand how things work.
    via tender-lager-32
  • When I was an intern, I had a lot of free time, but I thought that was normal because I was the lowest on the totem pole.
    via tender-lager-32
  • Now I'm a full-time employee with a real salary, my own high-walled cubicle, and a new $2500 laptop.
    via tender-lager-32
  • They give me all the perks, but honestly, I still don't do much. When I first started, they gave me a big project that was supposed to take a few months.
    via tender-lager-32
  • I finished it way ahead of schedule, and my managers were very happy with the result.
    via tender-lager-32
  • But since then, things have been very quiet. My entire to-do list for today was to book a flight for my manager for a business trip.
    via tender-lager-32
  • Ticking off a To Do List
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • That's it. I'm a software developer. They're paying me for my skills, and I spend my days watching The Office for the tenth time and browsing Reddit.
    via tender-lager-32
  • I could have pulled a George Costanza and slept under my desk, but the problem is my manager's path to the kitchen passes by my cube about twenty times a day.
    via tender-lager-32
  • Seriously, is work like this for everyone? My manager is always swamped with work, and every once in a while, he throws a few things my way.
    via tender-lager-32
  • I finish them very quickly, and then things go quiet again for a few weeks. He's always complaining about his workload, and I'm just sitting there thinking, 'Isn't that what you hired me for?' I've asked for more work many times, and sometimes they find something for me to do, but it never lasts long.
    via tender-lager-32
  • How does one stay busy and be useful to the team? Edit: Thank you for all the advice and the things you brought to my attention.
    via tender-lager-32
  • I truly hadn't imagined they would use this against me in the future and to fire me.
    via tender-lager-32
  • I will try to involve myself more in projects, understanding, and participating, and to learn anything new on the side in my free time.
    via tender-lager-32
  • As for the point that if I moved to another job, I would be without sufficient experience, I will keep my resume updated at all times and I will read more career advice.
    via tender-lager-32
  • nickisfractured You're in a dangerous position. If you decide to stay and rot your skills when you eventually leave because you're laid off or get sick of doing nothing your skills will have atrophied to the point that you will fail most interviews and if you do get a job it'll be too fast paced for you to keep up.
    via nickisfractured
  • Man looking bored at work.
    via prostock-studio

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Scubber Mostly for individual contributors yes. Managers and leads tend to want to take all the high impact work with visibility as that's what keeps you safe from layoffs and keeps you in the promotion lineup.
    via Scubber
  • Illustrious_Debt_392 If you're not being assigned work directly, ask if there's any other projects outside your area that you can help with, or any teams that could use your skills until something comes up in your area. Take any training that's offered by the business. If there are any process improvements around that help the team, document and work on those. Is there any work that you can take off a teammates plate that allows you to learn more of the business, and free up some of their time?
    via Illustrious_Debt_392
  • Curious-Function7490 Start a side project for work, build a related tool or a dashboard or something like that.
    via Curious-Function7490
  • Ponchovilla18 Well, I wouldn't say your experience is the norm and moat have the opposite. Id say be careful for what you ask for, when people say theyre bored and want more work, then youre slammed and given more than what your job is supposed to be and you arent getting higher compensation for it
    via Ponchovilla18
  • speak_truth__ Welcome to my life. I manage my department which basically means fix anything my employees screw up. I've taugt them how to fix their own mistakes and it's a painstaking process which ensures they don't make those mistakes ever again. Now I sit and play scrabble for 7 of my 8 hours I'm required to be at that desk
    via speak_truth__
  • eluke01 If you don't make work for yourself and are able to justify your job they will use that against in the future to lay you off or fire you.
    via eluke01
  • Key_Construction 1696 I had a job where I only had what to do on mondays. 1 day of 5 per week. It was a psychological nightmare. Look for something better is my advice.
    via Key_Construction1696

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boss antiwork workplace-stories employee work-drama drama no work work coworkers boredom colleague workplace Reddit wasting time employment cubicle boredom
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