So my job is based on productive/billable hours and I’ve finished all of my work for now. Anyone have any advice for what to do about this? Feels like a dangerous spot to be in because I can’t see why my boss won’t just decide he no longer has use for me if there’s no more work to be done (I’m looking for other jobs but it’s an absolute desert out here). Seems like a dream in some sense but absolutely dreadful in others
Ive asked others and they’ve said I should’ve slowed down, but I don’t think they realize it’s not about how fast you complete your work, it’s about getting your deliverables sent on time. And the job market is hell rn so I’m freaking out :(
Don't think of it as speed, think of it as cadence. If you're feeling anxious do a review of your work. It is productive, billable, and might catch a mistake.
Feels like a dangerous spot to be in because I can’t see why my boss won’t just decide he no longer has use for me if there’s no more work to be done
When it comes to billable hours, there is always more work. The worst that can happen is he gives you some of that work to fill the time. Take your pay, multiply it by 5 or 10, and that's what is charged to the customer. He will make up work if needed.
Ive asked others and they’ve said I should’ve slowed down, but I don’t think they realize it’s not about how fast you complete your work, it’s about getting your deliverables sent on time.
I've never had to work a job with billable hours, but I'm guessing the others at your work have figured out some kind of way to pad it out right to make it work for them.
Indeed, it’s so they can get away with not giving PTO
I have “unlimited PTO” and it’s a fucking scam
Can you get away with spending hours on research (gathering requirements from clients, kickoff meetings, training on how to use a certain tool)?
Can you get away with spending hours on checking your work (verification, validation, reviewing)?
Can you get away with just straight up lying your hours (saying it took you 16 hours of work when it only took 6 hours)?
If something actually took 6 hours but you want to pad it to 16 hours, it could be something like this:
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Preliminary research: 1hr
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Gathering requirements from clients: 2hrs
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Additional research: 2hrs
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The actual work you did: 6hrs
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Adding around 50% of the actual work: 3hrs
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QA: 2hrs
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There is a speed assumed with getting work done. If you are ahead of that speed without major issues, you will generally be considered good enough. Also, your boss may have more work for you, you might not know it yet.
Justify staying on the clock with "self development" stuff.
"Hey, if I'm done with the project, I'll just go find some free online bootcamp or old "How To" book and work my way through that until the next project spins up."
ive heard of unions working against billable hours crap and making it a standard wage before. just a thought if youre thinking of leaving anyways
