How much do you skive off from work?

[Legacy]

I work full time in an office, but I get out and about to meetings etc and my boss isn't always around. If I do occasionally 'skive off' I feel very guilty, but I've come to the conclusion that maybe everyone does it to some degree (including the blokes) and that I'm worrying to much...?

Sort of things I'm thinking about are:

• doing on-line shopping whilst at work
  
• (Being on Mumsnet of course too!)
  
• finishing a meeting in London at 3 pm then going shopping
  
• 'working at home' but then well, not, really...(Or not much..)
  
  Sometimes it feels that since becoming a Mum this is the only way I ever get any time to myself - it's like little, unexpected 'treats' for myself..
  Equally I somtimes feel that I just NEED it, or else I'll go insane!
  
  But I DO feel guilty, and keep worrying I'll get found out...
  
  BUT I also manage to forget to tell myself that I DO log on to my e-mail at home soemtimes, and I DON't spend whole days at Golf or Rugby events like the blokes....
  
  So - how much do YOU skive off - go on - do tell!!

[handlemecarefully]

About 5 hours of an 8 hour working day spent online!

Its scandalous really but I don't feel guilty because I am massively underemployed despite lobbying my boss (a control freak who can't delegate) for more work

[Legacy]

WOw - HMC - can I come and work at your place!!

[handlemecarefully]

It sounds great - but it's actually quite demoralising. I would like to be busier....

[Toothache]

My MN time should be a good indication of how much time I skive off of!! I keep saying this, but it's true.... I will be fired when they check my usage.

I don't care..... I NEED MUMSNET!

[Sponge]

Currently almost constantly. I get in late, leave early, take long lunches, spend most of the day when I am in online, go home after meetings etc.
But.... I have nothing much to do and I have resigned. You're right HMC, it is demoralising and boring - the days go much quicker if you're busy.
Still, I start my new job in May and then I guess I'll be desperate for some skive time.

[Legacy]

Anyone else skive off shopping when out of the office?

[CountessDracula]

occasionally yes, but I feel I deserve it as am flat out 95% of the time.

[scotlou]

I used to do the "sales" bit and would arrange calls depending on what shopping needed done- ie before Christmas there would be several appointments made in Glasgow - and I'd allow myself a 2 hour lunch break to fit the shopping in....can't do that now as I'm office based. However, I do shop online from work - broadband connection etc. but I don't spend time chatting about football so i reckon it all works out about even!

[miranda2]

finishing a meeting at 3 and then going shopping isn't skiving - that's totally normal! Its not worth going back to the office after that. also if i have an appointment in the direction of a supermarket then doing some shopping is OK too I reckon. So is doing an online shop at work. The working from home and then not is different - I think that is going too far and makes it harder for people to negotiate genuinely working from home as people know it is abused.

[Sponge]

Definitely shop on the way back from meetings.
Working from home is different for me. I get the work I've taken home done but I do stuff like put a load of washing on in between times.

[Legacy]

Re: Working from home - I think I meant more in line with what Sponge is saying : doing some work, but also fitting in other things in between too (e.g. washing, picking kids up from school etc)

I would never say I was working from home and then go out for the day, or do absolutely NO work - I agree that would be wrong...

[miranda2]

Oh well, that's different!!
I work from home all the time, and the brilliant thing about it is being able to put the washing on, hang it out, etc etc, in the time you would ohterwise be chatting with colleagues etc. Makes life SO much easier, and the same (or more) work gets done.

[helsi]

I always skive when I can. I was on a boring training course last Tuesday and told the trainers that I needed to finish early as I had a doctors appt - I finished at 1.30. I was meant to work at home on Friday - but didn't I took dd to toddler group instead.