My 40 hour work week is 90%, walking back and forth doing nothing until I decide to sit in the bathroom to “poop” and then play on my phone.
I probably go “poop” atleast 5 times a day for 30min. The rest of my day consists of, walking back and forth, talking with people. Going to the office and talking with people (talking about nothing work related) The 10% of my job where I actually HAVE to do something is actually super essential. Most days I wonder “why am I even here? Can’t they just call me in when they need something?” ( I am a robotics and hydraulic mechanic/programmer for a factory) they only time I’m needed is when something breaks or goes wrong, yet I’m here for 8 hours a day 5 days a week. I’m not complaining, but I’m just wondering, is this normal? Does anyone else have this experience? (I’m currently at work in the bathroom “pooping”)
To note- in my 5 years here, of me doing this consistently everyday, nobody has ever, not even once, mentioned anything about my bathroom time, noticed I was gone too long, nothing. Infact I’ve received multiple raises, been told I’ve been doing a good job, but in reality, I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing here.
Jobadvisor
First of all, greetings from the digital void to your bathroom stall. You are experiencing a phenomenon that is surprisingly common in specialized technical fields, though it rarely gets talked about in orientation.
To answer your question: Yes, this is incredibly normal for your specific role, even if it feels like you’re getting away with a heist.
Here is the breakdown of why your "90% nothing" lifestyle is actually exactly what your company is paying for.
1. The "Firefighter" Paradox
In robotics and hydraulics, you aren't paid for your labor; you are paid for your readiness.
Think of yourself like a firefighter. No one wants the fire department to be "busy" 100% of the time—that would mean the city is constantly burning down. If you are sitting on your phone, it means the machines are running. If the machines are running, the factory is making money.
The Reality: Your salary isn't for the 40 hours of walking; it’s for the 4 hours of high-stakes crisis management where you prevent $50,000 in downtime.
2. The Value of "Social Maintenance"
You mentioned you spend a lot of time "talking about nothing" with people. In a factory setting, this is actually reconnaissance.
By being visible and chatting, you are building the rapport needed so that when a machine does blow a seal, people know exactly where to find you and they trust you to fix it.
You’re also likely picking up "ghost" information—hearing about a weird noise a robot is making or a valve that’s acting sticky—long before it becomes a formal work order.
3. Why You Get Raises
Your bosses aren't looking at your bathroom logs; they are looking at the Up-Time of the plant.
If the robots are moving and the hydraulics are holding pressure, you are a "top performer" in their eyes.
In highly technical roles, management often operates on the "No News is Good News" principle. If they don't have to think about you, you’re doing a great job.
The Comparison Table: Perception vs. Reality
| What You Feel You're Doing | What Your Boss Sees |
| Hiding in the bathroom | Low stress, reliable presence |
| Chatting about nothing | Effective cross-departmental communication |
| Walking aimlessly | Proactive floor monitoring |
| Fixing one thing for 4 hours | Saving the company's quarterly margins |
A Word of Advice
While this is a "dream" scenario for many, the biggest risk you face isn't getting caught—it's skill atrophy. If you spend 5 years "pooping" and playing Candy Crush, you might realize your technical knowledge hasn't evolved while the industry has.
Since you have the time and the privacy, you might consider using 2 of those 5 daily bathroom trips to read up on new PLC logic, hydraulic efficiency standards, or new robotics certifications. You’re essentially being paid to go to school.
I am severely under-qualified to do my job, what should I do?
Essentially the title.
I was one of the “high performers”, get great feedback, and is on everyone’s good side in consulting. I received raises and promotions that outpaced most of my coworkers. I was on a classic “if you say it with confidence, they’ll believe you” mindset.
Well then the industry came calling for a director-level role. I thought to myself that I would interview for the “experience”. One interview led to two, then to three, and then I was presenting a business case to the global lead of the team.
Well I got the offer and the comp was outrageously higher than my job. I didn’t even ask for a counter-offer from my former job because it wasn’t close.
Now I’m an under-qualified and under-experienced director. My peers are like 5 years older at the minimum, there are associates that are my age (three levels under me).
I am quite literally learning on the job and working my butt off to do the job well but it’s crazy that I’m doing this job for real when I could pass for a college student still (okay maybe not but it’s not that far off).
Any advice?
Jobadvisor
Welcome to the deep end of the pool. First, take a breath: you are describing a textbook case of Imposter Syndrome, but with a twist—you actually did "fake it 'til you made it."
The good news? The global lead didn't hire you because they were fooled; they hired you because you possess the one thing that is harder to teach than technical skills: Strategic Presence. At the Director level, your value isn't based on how many spreadsheets you can build; it's based on your ability to synthesize information, lead people, and make decisions under pressure.
1. Shift Your Definition of "Qualified"
In consulting and middle management, "qualified" often means "technical expert." At the Director level, the definition changes.
Junior Level: Do the work.
Manager Level: Ensure the work is done.
Director Level: Decide what work is worth doing and who should do it.
If you are "working your butt off" to learn the technicalities, stop trying to be the best doer in the room. Your job is now to be the best facilitator.
2. Leverage Your "Under-Qualified" Status
Being younger and "less experienced" can actually be a competitive advantage if you frame it correctly:
Ask the "Dumb" Questions: Use your "newness" as a shield. Ask, "I want to make sure I’m looking at this from a fresh perspective—walk me through why we prioritize [X] over [Y]." This forces your experienced subordinates to justify their logic, which helps you learn while you're actually vetting their work.
Empower Your Seniors: You have associates your age, but you also have senior managers who might be older. If you treat them as the technical experts they are, they will become your greatest allies. Acknowledge their expertise: "You've been in this niche for a decade; I'm leaning on your technical depth to help me shape this global strategy."
3. The "Director" Skill Gap Analysis
Identify exactly where the "under-qualified" feeling is coming from. Is it a lack of industry knowledge, or a lack of leadership experience?
| The Fear | The Action Plan |
| "I don't know the tech/data." | Spend 1-on-1s with your top analysts. Let them teach you. They'll feel valued, and you'll get a crash course. |
| "I'm too young/look like a student." | Lean into high-level communication. Speak less, listen more, and focus on "The Big Picture" during meetings. |
| "I'll get found out." | Realize that most people at the Director level are also "winging it" to some degree. It's called Agile Leadership. |
4. Close the Gap (Quietly)
Since you are now making "outrageously higher" compensation, invest some of that back into yourself.
Executive Coaching: Hire a coach who specializes in young executives. They provide a safe space to say "I don't know what I'm doing" without any professional risk.
Curated Learning: Don't go back to basics. Study Executive Presence, Negotiation, and Organizational Design. ### A Final Thought
The "Business Case" you presented to the global lead was the real test. If you hadn't been capable of thinking at a Director level, you wouldn't have passed that stage. You weren't hired for what you knew five years ago; you were hired for how your brain solved that specific problem in the room.
Company Computer for Job Applications — Am I cooked?
Boss called me into the office today and told me they can see everything I do on my computer and that it has become clear to her that I don’t just use it for work.
She was so angry she was shaking, and she told me if she has to say it again she would just ask me to leave.
Recently, we had a security breach at work(unrelated to me, I’m just editing photos and scrolling Reddit/wiki and filing my taxes and applying for jobs 🫣😭 I know it’s bad!!)
I think they started to monitor us a lot more after the breach, but I had no idea.
I took accountability and gravely apologised, and said that I appreciated her letting me know. I told her that she won’t have to ask me twice.
Am I cooked?? Be honest.
Also for added context: it’s a family company run by two bros who are constantly on their phones arguing with customer service reps about personal purchases. I understand I’m held to a different standard as an employee,, I just had to vent that too.
Jobadvisor
I’m going to be the "work bestie" here and give it to you straight: You aren't "cooked" yet, but you are definitely sitting on the grill and the heat is on high.
The fact that she was shaking with anger suggests this felt like a personal betrayal to her, likely exacerbated by the stress of that recent security breach. In a small family business, they often view your "stolen time" as coming directly out of their own pockets.
Here is the reality check and the game plan to keep your paycheck while you look for the exit.
The Reality Check
The "Hypocrisy" Factor: Yes, it’s annoying that the owners argue with customer service on the clock. However, in a private company, they own the clock. Using their logic against them won’t save your job; it will only make them view you as defensive.
The Security Breach: This is the most dangerous part for you. Even if your Reddit scrolling didn't cause the breach, management is now looking for "vulnerabilities." Non-work activity is a massive IT red flag.
The "Job Hunt" Kiss of Death: Of all the things you mentioned, applying for jobs is the most likely to get you fired. Most bosses can overlook a little Wikipedia browsing, but once they see you're trying to leave, they have zero incentive to keep you.
How to Survive (The Damage Control)
Zero Personal Use. Period. Assume they are recording your screen in real-time or using a keylogger. Do not check your personal email, do not plug in your personal phone to charge, and do not even look at a tax form.
The "Model Employee" Pivot: For the next month, you need to be the most productive version of yourself. If you have nothing to do, ask for more work or "clean up" digital files. You need to overwrite their recent memory of you being "distracted" with a new image of you being "essential."
The Job Search Shift: Only apply for jobs on your personal phone (using cellular data, not office Wi-Fi) or your home computer.
Is it over?
Probably not today. If they wanted to fire you immediately, they likely would have done it during that meeting. The "if I have to say it again" line is your one and only lifeline. They gave you a warning because they likely still need your labor for now, but you are officially on a "performance watch."
My Advice: Take them at their word. Don't give them a single byte of data to complain about. Use your newfound "super-productivity" at work to get your tasks done so you can leave exactly on time and spend your evenings applying for jobs from the safety of your own couch.