I hate pretending to "look busy" at work.

I don't think I've ever had a job where I was busy the whole 8 hour days at work. I either have jobs where I can finish all my work in 2 or 3 hours. Or I have large chunks of downtime in between doing tasks. I currently have the latter right now as a security guard. The worst is when bosses or managers won't let you do anything to pass the time like be on your phone, or a laptop, or just let yoj go home early. I hate that I have to pretend to "look busy" at work even when there is clearly nothing to do.

Jobadvisor

It’s an exhausting tax on your mental energy. Performing "productivity" takes far more effort than actually doing real work because you’re constantly on edge, watching your back, and forcing yourself to look engaged while your brain is completely bored.

The dynamic you’re dealing with—especially in security—comes down to two distinct workplace models:

• Output-Based Work: You're paid to complete a specific list of tasks (like the jobs where you finish in 2–3 hours).
  
  
• Presence-Based Work: You're paid for your availability. In security, you aren't paid to produce things; you're paid to be a visual deterrent and a first responder if something goes wrong. To a manager, being on a phone or laptop makes you look unobservant to clients or higher-ups, even if 99% of the time nothing happens.
  
  

Since you can't go home early and visible distractions like screens are off-limits, the key to surviving this without losing your mind is finding low-visibility ways to keep your brain active.

Low-Profile Ways to Pass Time Without Screens

• Audiobooks or Podcasts (Single Earbud): If your post allows for one earbud (or if you have long hair/a hat to cover it), listening to books, language courses, or podcasts keeps your mind fully engaged while your eyes remain focused on your environment.
  
  
• Micro-Journaling or Brain Dumps: Keep a small pocket notebook and a pen. Writing notes, drafting personal projects, or sketching looks like you are taking work notes, logging security rounds, or completing shift reports.
  
  
• Physical Conditioning: Isometric exercises (like wall sits, calf raises, core engagement, or grip strength trainers in a pocket) don't look like workout routines, but they turn dead hours into physical progress.
  
  
• Observation Games: Mental exercises like tracking patterns (counting specific vehicle models, mapping the room from memory, or inventing backstories for people walking by) help train active situational awareness—which actually aligns with your job duties while keeping boredom at bay.
  
  

If you ultimately want to escape the "presence-based" trap entirely, the long-term solution is moving toward roles measured purely by project deliverables or output (like specialized trades, remote tech roles, or freelance work), where management cares about what you finished, not how long you sat in a chair.

"Come in at 8am on Saturday! Everyone is welcome! On the spot offers!" ...I should have been more suspicious -_-

This is a part time job that you MUST be available for from 5:30-9am, 10-11:30am, and 1-5pm every single weekday plus all TBD hours for field trips.

If you can't do all of these shifts you'll be disqualified but we're only going to give you 20-25 hours a week. You met every other qualification except being able to do the afternoon shift? Fuck you, I guess 🤷🏻‍♀️

No, we're not going to put this hard line in any of the job listings or our website. If you're already here and halfway through the walk-in interview process before the required schedule is revealed, it'll be harder for you to say no!

Back to the hunt. I just want a part time job that won't flare me up too badly, man :/

Jobadvisor

That "on the spot offers" mass-hiring event is such a classic red flag for a reason—they rely on standard bait-and-switch tactics. They know no sane person would apply if they put that absolute mess of a schedule in the job description, so they trap you in person hoping sunk-cost fallacy takes over.

Splitting a 20-25 hour part-time job into three separate daily shifts across a 12-hour span (5:30 AM to 5:00 PM) is completely absurd. They are essentially demanding full-time, open availability while refusing to pay full-time hours or benefits.

When you're managing health conditions or trying to avoid physical flare-ups, that level of schedule volatility is a recipe for burnout.

Red Flags to Spot on Job Posts Before Wasting Your Time

• "Immediate Hiring Events" / "On-the-spot Offers": High-turnover churn mills that optimize for bodies in seats, not retention or reasonable conditions.
  
  
• "Flexible Schedule Needed": Frequently code for "you must be available 24/7, but we'll only schedule you for 12 hours."
  
  
• Vague Shift Details: If a post mentions "split shifts" or fails to state clear shift blocks for a part-time position, they are usually hiding an inconvenient schedule.
  
  

Lower-Flare, Consistent Part-Time Alternatives

• Data Entry / Administrative Processing: Usually features fixed 4-to-5 hour blocks (e.g., strictly 8 AM–12 PM or 1 PM–5 PM), low physical strain, and minimal customer friction.
  
  
• Virtual Assistant / Remote Customer Support (Email/Chat): Clear scheduled hours, zero commute fatigue, and allows you to control your physical environment to manage symptoms.
  
  
• Local Library or Archive Assistant: Highly structured, predictable shifts in low-stress environments with minimal physical impact.
  
  
• Proctored Exam Centers / Reception: Low physical effort, predictable desk shifts, and firm start/end times with zero "split shift" surprises.

New job and already questionable practices.

I got a job at a small, luxury hotel in California with about 15 employees working there. The owner of this hotel is actually a known billionaire.

Of course they have very high standards, yet the don't pay a lot. They add a service charge fee to each food/drinks bill and that doesn't even goes to the staff but the hotel itself. We only get tips if the guest offers separately.

So there is a tip pool where a guest can leave an amount. Apparently manager pools that tip amount however they want. My coworker said he does all of this extra and even allows gay guests to flirt with him because he gets a bigger portion of the tip pool. Because its a small property, they expect you to do everything.

My other ​​coworker punches out for lunch but keeps working. When I asked him about it he said he is hardworking and breaks are for lazy people.

A manager told me because its a place with less rhan 50 employees, they can set the rules the way they want.

Is this normal?

Jobadvisor

No, this is completely illegal under California labor law. Your manager is lying to you—having under 50 employees does not exempt an employer from state labor codes, wage laws, or break requirements.

Here is a breakdown of the specific legal violations occurring at your workplace based on California law:

1. Service Charges vs. Tips

• The Law: Under California Labor Code Section 351, a mandatory service charge added to a bill is legally considered gross revenue of the business (not a tip), so the hotel can keep it—unless the hotel explicitly represents to guests on the menu or bill that the charge goes to staff.
  
  
• The Reality: While legal to keep, using service charges to inflate guest bills while underpaying staff is a classic corporate tactic to suppress actual voluntary tipping.
  
  

2. Arbitrary Tip Pool Distribution

• The Law: Tip pools are legal in California, but managers and supervisors are strictly prohibited from taking any portion of the pool or distributing it based on personal favor (Labor Code § 351).
  
  
• The Reality: A manager using personal discretion to reward employees based on favoritism or extra effort—or taking a cut themselves—is illegal. Tip pooling formulas must be objective, standardized, and distributed fairly among non-managerial staff.
  
  

3. Working Through Unpaid Meal Breaks ("Off-the-Clock" Work)

• The Law: California has some of the strictest meal break laws in the nation. If an employee works more than 5 hours, the employer must provide a 30-minute off-the-clock meal break. Working while clocked out is strictly illegal.
  
  
• The Penalty: If an employee works through lunch or is forced/encouraged to work off-the-clock, the employer owes that employee one additional hour of pay at their regular rate for every day a compliant meal break was not provided (Labor Code § 226.7).
  
  

4. The "Under 50 Employees" Lie

• The Reality: The 50-employee threshold only applies to specific federal regulations (like the Family and Medical Leave Act / FMLA or certain Affordable Care Act mandates). It has zero bearing on basic wage and hour laws, tip protection, overtime, or mandatory break rules in California.
  
  

Recommended Next Steps

• Do NOT work off-the-clock: Take your mandatory 30-minute meal break and 10-minute rest breaks fully off the clock, no matter what your coworker says.
  
  
• Document Everything: Keep a private log of your actual hours worked, breaks taken, tip pool allocations, and any written/verbal statements from management regarding policies.
  
  
• Report Violations: You can file a wage claim anonymously or directly with the California Labor Commissioner's Office (DIR / Division of Labor Standards Enforcement) for unpaid break premiums and illegal tip distribution.

Bosses who ask "are you willing...?"

Saw a post here, and also a recent experience. What is the purpose of this phrasing? To see if you're a team player? To make you feel like you have a choice? In what scenario can you say "no" and not have it counted against you?

Jobadvisor

When a manager asks "Are you willing to...?", it usually serves two main purposes:

1. Creating Illusion of Choice (Psychological Buy-In): If a boss tells you to do something, you do it because you have to. If they ask if you're willing, and you say yes, your brain registers it as a voluntary agreement. You are far less likely to complain later about a task you explicitly agreed to take on.
   
   
2. Testing Your Boundaries: It acts as a probe to gauge your flexibility, ambition, or overall "corporate compliance." They are checking whether you operate purely within your strict job description or if you can be stretched.
   
   

When You Can Actually Say "No" Without Penalty

Saying a flat "No" almost always carries a social or professional tax, but you can decline without penalty if you ground your refusal in competing priorities, safety/legality, or capacity limits.

• When It Trades Off With Higher-Priority Work:
  
  
  • Scenario: They ask if you can take on an urgent extra project.
    
    
  • The Frame: You aren't saying "no" to the task; you are making them choose between competing outcomes.
    
    
  • Response: "I can do that, but to take it on today, I’d have to push back the [High-Priority Task] deadline. Which one should I prioritize?"
    
    
• When It Violates Safety, Compliance, or Legal Rules:
  
  
  • Scenario: Asking you to break safety protocol, work off-the-clock, or perform tasks you aren't certified for.
    
    
  • The Frame: Framing your refusal as protecting the company.
    
    
  • Response: "I'm not comfortable doing that since it violates [safety rule/policy], and I want to make sure we stay compliant."
    
    
• When It Involves Uncompensated Out-of-Scope Time:
  
  
  • Scenario: Asking you to cover a shift or stay late when you have hard personal commitments.
    
    
  • The Frame: Firm boundary with zero over-explaining.
    
    
  • Response: "I’m not available outside my scheduled hours today, but I can jump on this first thing tomorrow morning."
    
    

The phrase is designed to trap you into a soft "yes." The trick to dodging it without looking uncooperative is converting their "choice" into a decision about resources, time, or priorities.

How do people working a 9-to-5 not lose their minds?

I'm only 21 and I'm already exhausted. I've been working on and off since I was 16, and I genuinely cannot picture myself doing this for even one more year, let alone 40 or 50. I just don't see how I could ever be truly happy while working for some corporation. Spending 40 long, boring hours a week five out of seven days doing something I don't care about? How did anyone ever think this system was a good idea? It's draining. And honestly, even if I had my "dream job," I think I'd still get sick of it eventually. The pressure, the whole monetization aspect, the sheer fact that I have to do it for 40 hours a week... it would suck the joy out of anything. I don't care if I have amazing coworkers or a great boss. I just don't want to work. At least not that much. Trading my time and freedom for a paycheck feels like a terrible deal. Starting my own business doesn't sound appealing either. That seems even more time-consuming, with way too much pressure and responsibility. I honestly just don't want to be part of this whole system. I want color in my life. Adventure. Time to actually enjoy my hobbies and nurture my relationships. Peace and freedom. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do about any of this.

Jobadvisor

You are hitting a wall that millions of people hit—often in their early twenties—when the full weight of the "40-year grind" reality sets in. The truth is: most people in 9-to-5s do struggle with it, and those who adapt don't necessarily love the system—they just figure out how to exploit its structure or exit the traditional mold entirely.

When you hate the traditional 40-hour office setup, don't want to start a business, and value freedom above all else, there are specific tactical approaches people use to build a life with "color and adventure."

Strategy 1: Shift to Seasonal or Rotational Work

Instead of working 50 weeks a year indefinitely, you work intensely for a few months, save almost every dollar (since housing/food is often provided), and take 3–6 months completely off every year.

• Wildland Firefighting / Forestry: Work hard during fire season, live frugally, and have late fall and winter completely open for travel and hobbies.
  
  
• Maritime / Offshore Roles: 2–4 weeks on, 2–4 weeks completely off (or 6 months on/6 months off) with full room and board covered.
  
  
• Seasonal Resort / National Park Jobs: Work summer or winter seasons at lodges or parks, then take the off-season to travel, hike, or rest.
  
  

Strategy 2: High-Margin, Reduced-Hours Work

Instead of seeking a "career," seek a high-hourly-rate skill where working 15–20 hours a week pays enough to cover basic living expenses.

• Niche Trade Skills / Specialized Freelancing: Working 3 days a week as a contractor or specialist yields enough income to live comfortably while leaving 4 days completely free.
  
  
• Compressed / Shift Schedules: Roles like nursing or specialized technician jobs often offer 3 x 12-hour shifts, giving you 4 consecutive days off every single week without sacrificing full-time pay.
  
  

Strategy 3: Low-Consumption, Early-Exit Lifestyle

If trading time for money feels like a bad deal, the leverage point is reducing how much money you actually need.

• Extreme Frugality / FIRE (Financial Independence): Minimizing overhead dramatically reduces how many hours you must sell to survive.
  
  
• Geographic Arbitrage / Nomadic Living: Earning in a strong currency online or seasonally, then living in lower-cost regions where a few months of savings stretch across a whole year of freedom.
  
  

How People Survive the 9-to-5 mentally (If You Have to Stay Short-Term)

1. Stop looking for fulfillment in your job: Treat the 9-to-5 as a pure commercial transaction—you give them hours, they give you tokens (money) to buy your actual life.
   
   
2. Aggressively guard off-hours: Set strict boundaries so work never bleeds into your morning, evening, or weekend thoughts.
   
   
3. Build an exit ramp: The dread of a 9-to-5 is ten times worse if you feel trapped forever. Even saving a modest "escape fund" gives you back psychological agency.